1. Cold Injuries

2. Objectives Describe cold injury
Describe physiological factors associated with cold injuries
Types of cold injuries
Describe prevention of cold injuries

3. Cold Injury
Is tissue damage produced by exposure to cold. Type of injury depends on degree of cold, duration, and physiological factors.
Non-freezing: wet cold injuries associated with prolonged exposure to cold water, dampness or high humidity.

4. Cold Injury
Freezing, dry cold injuries associated with extended exposure to subfreezing temperatures, usually -10° C or lower when the humidity is low.

5. Physiological Factors
Illness: Personnel suffering from or recovering from an acute or chronic disease.
Previous history: Personnel with prior cold illness.
Poor Nutrition: Poor nutrition predisposes a person to cold injury
Activity: Too much or too little activity will contribute to cold injury

6. Physiological Factors
Fatigue: Physical and mental weariness can cause a lack of concern and result in a failure to take proper precautions.
Nicotine: Causes peripheral blood vessels to constrict thereby decreasing blood flow to the extremities.
Other injuries: Injuries resulting in significant blood loss, shock, or inactivity reduce effective blood flow to extremities and predispose to cold injuries.

7. Cold Injury Types

8. Immersion Syndrome
Occurs in as little as 24 hours in environments where the water temperature is below 10° C.
When temperature exceeds 10° C, injuries occur with exposure from hours.
Severe cases have required amputation.
Symptoms: Pale wrinkled skin
Treatment: Completely dry extremity

9. Immersion Syndrome

10. Frostbite
Occurs with exposure to ambient or wind chill temperatures, below freezing.
Symptoms: First, usually sharp, prickling sensation which reveals a yellow/white, numb area of hardened skin.
Most frequently affected areas: Cheek, nose, ears, chin, forehead, fingers and toes.
Severe cases may need amputation or excision.

11. Frostbite

12. Hypothermia
Results from general cooling of the body’s core temperature.
Usually person is not properly clothed for conditions.
May result in as little as 5 minutes, particularly if submerged in very cold water.

13. Avoid Hypothermia!!

14. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Indirectly results from exposure to cold.
As fuels from heaters burn they emit asphyxiating gases that can kill in enclosed spaces.
Personnel must be reminded to ventilate spaces well when using heaters or anything with a motor.

15. Snow Burn/Snow Blindness
Normally much of the solar radiation which reaches the earth is absorbed into the ground and the surrounding environment.
In the snow, however, the majority of the suns rays are reflected off the facets of ice crystals and are absorbed by the skin or pass into the eye.

16. Snow Blind
Pterygium

17. Cold Injury Prevention

18. Cold Injury prevention
Clothing: Wear or carry adequate amounts of the proper types of clothing for the weather to be encountered.
Care of the feet: Wear cold weather boots, clean dry socks, carry extra socks, keep feet dry, and feet should be massaged daily, toenails trimmed, and blisters cleaned and protected.

19. Cold Injury prevention
Wear gloves to protect fingers and hands.
Personal hygiene must be maintained to prevent skin injury.
Exercise increases internal body heat. Avoid immobilization
Wear sunglasses to prevent snow blindness
Diet: increase caloric intake and enforce hydration to prevent overheating.

20. Cold injury prevention
Buddy System: Train troops to recognize signs of cold injury to help prevent a buddy from injury.

21. Review Questions What is cold injury?
What are some physiological factors that can cause cold injuries?
What environmental conditions lead to Immersion Syndrome?
What areas of the body are most frequently affected by frostbite?
What are 4 ways to prevent cold injuries?