Cold WX Injury Awareness

Stephen Sammons Alaska EMT 2

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Cold WX

• Hypothermia

• Frost/Flash (Thermal) Injuries

• Treatment/Prevention

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Hypothermia

• Is a life threatening condition.

• Is defined by core body temperature and physiologic responses

• Does not have to be below freezing

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Hypothermia

• Dehydration and Fatigue increases the likelihood of onset

• Cold-wet conditions are most likely to bring it on

• Cold water immersion can induce hypothermia

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Hypothermia TX

• Prevention

• Adequate caloric intake (4000-6000 Kcal/day)

• Proper attire

• Rest

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Frost Injuries

• Chilblains (Wind Burns)

• Immersion Injuries (Trench Foot)

• Flash frost injuries

• Frostbite (Superficial and Deep)

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Immersion Syndrome Prevention

• Appropriate footwear (shoes and socks for the climate)

• Changing socks routinely

• Powder feet

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Flash Frost Injuries(Contact Frostbite)

• A rapid transfer of heat from an area of the body to another object

A.Fluid spills on bare skin (fluids that remain liquid below freezing) that evaporate removing heat

B.Rapid cooling of surface temperature by touch

• Keep body surfaces covered

• Requires medical treatment

• Treatment similar to thermal burns

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Frostbite

• Superficial

• Deep

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Superficial Frostbite• Upper layers of skin

• Numbness

• Soft and pliable

• Light skin turns white, waxy and pale

• Darker skin turns red, pale or darkened

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Deep Frostbite

• Can be down to the bone

• Blisters form as tissue is rewarmed

• Skin color is similar to superficial frostbite

• Skin is no longer pliable and dents to pressure

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FrostbiteIf you haven't seen enough

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Treatment of Frostbite• Prevent

• Remove the Threat: Evacuate v. Shelter in Place

• Superficial: remove the threat to the tissue, rewarm slowly

• Deep: remove the threat to the tissue, Do not rewarm if there is a potential to refreeze!

• Do not use friction to rewarm frosbitten parts!

• Observe and re-assess for repeat injury21

Frostbite vs. Hypothermia• Frostbite takes place in the outer layers,

starting with the skin, then progresses through layers on into the bone

• Hypothermia takes place in the body's core

• Frostbite has anatomical effects primarily, while Hypothermia has physiological effects

• Prevention is the same, treatment is different

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BibliographyState of Alaska. Cold Injuries Guidelines. Department of Health & Human Services. 2003.

United States Army. Cold Weather Student Handout. Northern Warfare Training Center, USARAK. (2011)

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Cold WX Injury Awareness

Questions?

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