Cold Stress

What is Cold Stress?

Put simply, cold stress occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can create it, causing the internal body temperate to fall. To mitigate this, the body will pull blood away from its extremities and into the core, which leads to those extremities cooling quicker than the rest of the body. If left untreated, cold stress can result in serious injuries and death. Several different factors can increase the risk of cold stress. These include: the duration of exposure, wind chill, wet conditions, and type of clothing worn.

It is important to know and be able to recognize the symptoms of cold stress. These symptoms could range from being as mild as shivering, feeling fatigued, or experiencing numbness/tingling. However, if the early symptoms are ignored, they can progress to feeling confused or dizzy, slurred speech, or changes to skin color/texture. Any worker experiencing symptoms of cold stress should seek help immediately. For mild symptoms, they should be moved to a warm area, wet clothing should be removed, and they should be given a warm drink to sip on. If a worker experiences serious symptoms, handle it in the same way, in addition to calling emergency services as soon as possible.

The body can react to cold stress in several different ways. The most severe way is hypothermia. Hypothermia is life-threatening and occurs when the internal body temperature falls below 95^◦F. If left untreated, the body will use all its stored energy trying to warm up, causing vital organs to shut down. Another result of cold stress is frostbite. Frostbite can occur at any temperature under 32^◦F and it causes skin and underlying tissues to freeze. Serious cases of frostbite can cause swelling/blistering or even irreversible tissue damage. Chilblains are a lesser-known symptom of cold stress. These are painful, itchy inflammations of blood vessels in the skin. Chilblains typically affect fingers and toes and can lead to long-term sensitivity to the cold.

How to prevent Cold Stress

Cold stress is a real threat that should be taken seriously by workers working outside in cold temperatures. However, cold stress can be prevented. The most important way to prevent cold stress is dressing properly. When dressing for the cold, choose a loose, moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating middle layer, and a wind/waterproof outer layer. Staying dry is a critical aspect of trying to keep warm. Also be sure to properly protect extremities like your feet, hands, ears, and nose. Additionally, proper nutrition and hydration is crucial for providing the fuel the body needs to continue to produce heat. Finally, workers should have ample opportunities to take breaks in warm areas, and they should be well-trained in the signs and symptoms of cold stress.