665 HAZWOPER for General Site Workers VI

Monitoring for Cold Exposure

Described below are the most common types of cold injury and their monitoring signals.

Pain in the extremities can be the first warning of dangerous exposure to cold. The first symptoms of hypothermia are uncontrollable shivering and the sensation of cold; the heartbeat slows and sometimes becomes irregular, the pulse weakens, and the blood pressure changes. If the body core temperature reaches about 85°F, significant and dangerous drops in blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration can occur, and the victim may die.

• Severe shaking or rigid muscles may be caused by bursts of body energy and changes in the body's chemistry.
• Uncontrollable fits of shivering, vague or slow slurred speech, memory lapses, incoherence, and drowsiness are some of the symptoms which can occur.
• Other symptoms which can be seen before complete collapse are cool skin, slow and irregular breathing, low blood pressure, apparent exhaustion, and fatigue after rest.
• As the core body temperature drops, the victim may become listless, confused, and make little or no attempt to keep warm.

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