1. OKPIK Staff Training 2011 / 2012
Cold Weather Injuries

2. Common Injuries
Dehydration
Hypothermia Frost Nip
& Bite

3. Dehydration: 2 causes Loss of Body Fluids Respiration
2-3 quarts lost a night
Perspiration
Overheating and over-exertion
Low Intake of Fluids
More water is needed as activity increases and/ or in extreme temperatures

4. Why hydrate?
Like oil in the car, water helps EVERY body system function efficiently. Any loss in oil pressure in a car causes an inefficient engine so does a lack of water in the body.
Being low of water slows the body’s process of creating energy (heat) from food, hinders a logical thought processes, & dulls dexterity

5. Assessment of Dehydration
Assessing yourself
Headache
Dark colored urine
Assessing others
“UMBLE’S”
Stumble, fumble, mumble
More irritable than normal
Lethargic, lazy
Tired
Altered personality

6. Treatment for Dehydration
Prevention: Drink! Drink! Drink!
Sip water slowly but constantly
Rest and stay warm

7. OKPIK Staff Training 2011 / 2012
Hypothermia

8. Hypothermia
Hypothermia is when the body’s core temperature drops below 95*F.
Unless you carry a thermometer this fact is useless
Hypothermia affects the brain in the early stages. The body reduces blood flow to the brain to maintain core body temperature. Monitoring each participants personality one can see early warning signs

9. Hypothermia Assessment
Assess yourself. You must know your body and know when it is getting too cold.
One of the first things to be affected is your ability to assess yourself rationally.
Use the “buddy system”.

10. Assessing Others
The signs of hypothermia in others in your group can include:
The “UMBLES.”
Poor judgment.
Personality changes.
Uncontrollable shivering.
(Note that as the core temperature drops uncontrolled shivering will stop. If the person hasn’t warmed up before the shivering stops evacuation is essential.)

11. Treatment of Hypothermia
Exercise
Walk
Skip
Ski
Chicken dance
Change out of damp clothes
Put on more layers
Get out of the wind
Drink warm fluids
Eat high energy foods
If condition is too severe or continues: Evacuate

12. OKPIK Staff Training 2011 / 2012
Frost Brothers

13. The Frost Brothers 1st Degree or Frost Nip
Top layers of the skin freezes
2nd Degree Frost Bite or Superficial
Most of skin layers freeze
3rd Degree Frost Bite or Deep
All skin & tissue layers freeze

14. Preventing the Frost Bothers
Guard against wind.
Wear proper clothes; wicking, warmth and wind layers to keep you dry and conserve body heat.
Don’t wear tight clothes. Tight cloths increase conduction heat loss and reduce circulation.
Use buddy system and watch each other.
Drink! Drink! Drink! If you body is hydrated you will metabolize the food you eat into available energy.

15. Assessment of Frost Nip
Starts off as redness, then becomes white and waxy (stiff to the touch)
Frozen skin will still move over unfrozen tissue below
Will be uncomfortable then will go numb

16. Treatment of Frost Nip Re-warm area, skin to skin
Change wet, damp clothes
Eat a snack and drink a little

17. Assessment of Frost Bite
Skin and tissue frozen solid (together) and looks white or bluish
Firm to touch
No sensation (feels like a club)
If injury re-warms the skin will not feel or act normal, area may be black or deep blue blisters will be clear and will be more red the more severe the injury

18. Treatment of Frost Bite
The body cells are frozen. The cells are very fragile like a plastic bag full of sharp icicles.
If the area is rubbed to be warmed the cells will be broken and the injured area will increase in size and severity, DO NOT RUB.
It is not recommended to re-warm the injury in the field, keep it bundled.
DON’T LET THE INJURY REFREEZE. The injury will be worse than you want to think about, or live with!
EVACUATE FROM THE FIELD.

19. OKPIK Staff Training 2011 / 2012
Other Cold Injuries

20. Sunburns Caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation
Cloudy or Sunny days
Snow and ice reflects up to 75% of the sun’s rays
Earlobes, the underside of the chin and nose, and lips are more common to be sunburned
Use chap stick with SPF

21. Snow Blindness Caused by the reflection of ultraviolet rays
Sunburn of the retina
Cloudy or Sunny days
Symptoms: dryness or irritation may occur 6-8 hours after exposure.
Prevention and Treatment: wear dark sunglasses and a hat with a brim.

22. Burns
May occur from boiling water, stove fuel, campfire or camp stove.
Use caution when filling water bottles with boiling water
Always wear rubber gloves when handling stove fuel
Treatment is the same as in the summer.
Cool. Clean. Cover.