Cold Weather Safety from Calgary EMS

Minus temperatures are here again – do you know what to do in the case of cold injury/illness?

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedics respond to a number of cold weather related emergencies every winter. However, by taking appropriate measures to dress properly, anticipate sudden weather changes and preparing to be out in the cold, may reduce your risk of sustaining a cold weather illness/injury. It’s also advised you store an emergency kit in your vehicle at all times containing extra clothing, blankets and other road-side supplies.

Frostnip

• Frost-nipped skin is extremely cold, but not yet frozen skin;
• It commonly affects the ears, nose, cheeks, fingers and toes;
• The skin may look red and possibly feel numb to the touch;
• When treated promptly, frostnip usually heals without complication;
• Move to a warm environment and immediately, but gently, re-warm the affected area through skin to skin contact (i.e. hand covering tips of ears).

Frostbite

• Frostbite occurs when skin becomes so cold, the skin and underlying tissues freeze;
• Affected skin may look white & waxy and will feel hard to the touch;
• Move to a warm environment immediately and place the affected area in warm, not hot, water, until fully re-warmed; call 9-1-1, or seek further
  medical attention as required.

Hypothermia

• Hypothermia is abnormally low body temperature, less than 34°C (as compared
  to normal body temperature of about 37°C);
• Early hypothermia may manifest as profound shivering; moderate hypothermic patients may act inappropriately: stumbling, mumbling, and fumbling, as their body temperature continues to drop resulting in severe hypothermia (30°C);
• Left untreated, severe hypothermia may progress to unconsciousness or death;
• Early recognition and prompt medical attention is key. Call 9-1-1. Don’t forget to
  protect yourself from the factors that originally lead to the patient’s situation;
• Initiate gentle re-warming as quickly as possible. Remove any wet or constrictive
  clothing; cover with blankets, or sleeping bags. Protect from further heat loss:
  eliminate contact with cold surfaces, and shield from wind and moisture.