Hypothermia & Hyperthermia

UNIVERSAL COLLEGES OF PARANAQUE
College of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department
CCSN 52E: Construction Safety
HYPOTHERMIA HYPERTHERMIA
 Is a medical emergency that occurs when
your body losses heat transfer than it can
produce heat causing a dangerously low body
temperature.
 Occurs as your body temperature falls below
35 C.
 Is often caused by exposure to cold weather
or immersion in cold water.
Any one who works in an environment with either artificial or
natural cold is potentially at risk. Many cases of hypothermia
reported involve workers who make their living working on
and around the water.
•Artificial Cold is found in areas such as

cold storage, freezers, and refrigerated
tractor trailers.
•Natural Cold exposure applies to

workers who work outdoors in such
industries as fishing, commercial diving,
forestry, construction, agriculture, and
petroleum.
SYMPTOMS
Shivering is likely the

first thing you’ll notice
 Shivering
as the temperature  Slurred speech or mumbling
starts to drop because
it’s your body’s  Slow, shallow breathing
automatic defense  Weak pulse
against cold
temperature – an  Clumsiness or lack of coordination
attempt to warm itself.  Drowsiness or very low energy
 Confusion or memory loss
 Loss of consciousness
 Bright red, cold skin (in infants)
MILD MODERATE
 Shivering  Mental impairment

 Blue lips and fingers  Confusion
 Poor coordination  Poor decision-making
 Disorientation
 Inability to take
precautions from the cold
 Heart slowdown
 Slow breathing
MILD MODERATE
 Shivering  Mental impairment

 Blue lips and fingers  Confusion
 Poor coordination  Poor decision-making
 Disorientation
 Inability to take
precautions from the cold
 Heart slowdown
 Slow breathing
SEVERE
 Unconsciousness
 Heart slowdown to the
point where pulse is
irregular or difficult to find
 No shivering
 No detectable breathing
1. It doesn’t have to be bitterly cold
outside to get hypothermia.
2. It’s deadly.
3. It’s hard to recognize in yourself
and others.
4. Clothing matters.
5. Snacking helps
6. The risks are higher for some
people.
7. Don’t try to warm up a victim with
alcohol or a massage.
COLD WIND
 The most common cause of  It removes the thin insulating layer
hypothermia. Chilled air cools down of warm air next to the skin, a layer
the body. You can also become that is usually kept there by
hypothermic at temperatures above clothing. Wind causes cooling or
freezing if you are exposed to a “wind chill”. The stronger wind at a
combination of factors such as a given temperature, the cooler the
cold wind along with wet clothing. wind chill will be.
CLOTHING COLD WATER IMMERSION
 You can become exposed to  Speeds up the process of cooling
extreme cold if your clothing down the body. When you are in
becomes wet or is not properly water, heat is conducted away from
insulated to protect you from cold the body 25 times faster than in cold
and wind. air.
FATIGUE
 Will increase your vulnerability to
the risk of hypothermia.
GUIDELINES THAT WORK
 Wear warm head covering. Most body heat is lost through head.
 Wear layered clothing. Layers allow warm air to stay trapped but do not trap
perspiration next to the skin.
 Protect your feet and hands. Wear water proof boots. If the boots have felt
liners, carry an extra pair of liners to replace damp ones. If possible, wear mittens
– they warm the hands more effectively than do gloves. Carry an extra pair of
gloves or mittens.
 Carry emergency supplies. Such supplies may include a perforated can
containing a candle (this may supply enough heat to prevent hypothermia),
waterproof matches, and energy snacks such as raisins and nuts.
 Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids. Doing this may help prevent dehydration
and exhaustion, which can lead to hypothermia. Heated drinks can be helpful,
but limit your intake of coffee and tea.
 Pace yourself during vigorous activity. Take regular breaks to get away from the
cold environment. Don’t let yourself become weakened through fatigue. People
who are fit are less prone to hypothermia. Stay fit through physical conditioning.
 When possible, heat the working environment. For instance, heated cabs or
huts help protect construction workers from cold and damp. Warm rooms should
be available to workers who need a regular break from cold storage facilities.
Heated work environment should not be so hot that they cause excessive
sweating.
 Store your sleeping bag in a plastic vapour-barrier wrapper to keep it dry and
free of water vapour. If you are working on the water, know where your
immersion survival suit is located and know how to use it.
 Be sure you have some form of floatation before you enter the water. Without
floatation, even good
 Refers to a group of heat-related conditions
characterized by an abnormally high body
temperature – in other words, the opposite of
hypothermia.
 Is considered separate from conditions where
internal body sources, such as infection, heat-
regulating problems, and adverse drug
reactions or overdoses causes a raised body
temperature.
 A body temperature of more than 104℉ (40°C) is defined as
severe hyperthermia.
 Heat exhaustion is one of the more serious stages of

hyperthermia.
 Any activity that involves exercise in warm, humid,

environments increases the risk of this condition.
HEAT FATIGUE AND CRAMPS HEAT EXHAUSTION
This stage of hypothermia causes: Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
• Excessive sweating • Cold, pale, wet skin

• Exhaustion • Extreme or heavy sweating
• Flushed or red skin • Fast but weak pulse
• Muscle cramps, spasm, and pain • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Headache or mild light-headedness • Headache
• Nausea • Muscle cramps
• Exhaustion
• Weakness
• Intense thirst
• Dizziness
• Less frequent urination and dark urine
• Difficulty paying attention or
concentrating
HEAT STROKE
Symptoms of severe heat stroke include:
Symptoms of heat stroke include:
• Seizure
• Fast, strong pulse or very weak pulse
• Organ failure
• Fast, deep breathing
• Coma
• Reduced sweating
• death
• Hot, red, wet, or dry skin
• Nausea
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Blurred vision
• Irritability or mood swings
• Lack of coordination
• Fainting or losing of consciousness
• Placing ice packs or compresses under
TIPS FOR TREATING MILD the arms and groin
TO MODERATE • Using a fan to cool the skin
HYPERTHERMIA
• Sipping cool water or an electrolyte
drink
• Loosening or removing excess clothing
• Lying down and trying to relax
• Taking a cool bath or shower
• Placing a cool, wet cloth on the
forehead
• Running the wrists under cool water
for 60 seconds
• Not resuming activity until symptoms
have gone away

Hypothermia & Hyperthermia

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Hypothermia & Hyperthermia

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Hypothermia & Hyperthermia

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

UNIVERSAL COLLEGES OF PARANAQUE

•Artificial Cold is found in areas such as

•Natural Cold exposure applies to

Shivering is likely the

 Shivering  Mental impairment

 Shivering  Mental impairment

 Heat exhaustion is one of the more serious stages of

 Any activity that involves exercise in warm, humid,

• Excessive sweating • Cold, pale, wet skin

You might also like