Heat & Cold Injuries
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Contents |
Cold Injuries
Educational Goals
Students need to learn how the body regulates temperature in a cold environment. They should be able to describe the causes, signs, and symptoms, assessment, and treatment of the following cold injuries: hypothermia, frostbite, and immersion foot.
Key Points:
• What are the mechanisms of heat production and loss?
• What are the signs and symptoms of hypothermia?
• How do you treat mild and severe hypothermia?
• What are the best ways to rewarm patients in the backcountry?
• What causes frostbite and immersion foot?
• How do you treat frostbite?
• How do you treat immersion foot?
Teaching Considerations
Instruction should emphasize awareness and prevention of these problems. Properly equipped and educated individuals should be able to avoid cold injuries in the field. They need to be familiar with how to dress for inclement weather and how to dry clothes when they become wet.
During periods of bad weather, instructors must model how to stay warm and dry effectively. In experienced students often need close monitoring when conditions deteriorate. Foot inspections and dry sock inventories should be conducted regularly with those students exhibiting lax personal care. Storing wet clothes in packs should not be tolerated.
Heat Injury/Dehydration
Educational Goals
Students should have the ability to describe the physiology of temperature regulation in a hot environment. They need to know the cause, the signs and symptoms, and the treatment for heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Students must understand the importance of hydration and recognize the signs of hydration. They should know how to prevent snow blindness and sunburn.
Key Points
• What is proper hydration?
• What are the signs and symptoms of dehydration?
• How can you avoid sun-related illness?
• How should you assess heat exhaustion and heat stroke?
• What is the treatment of heat exhaustion and heat stroke?
Teaching Considerations
Good hydration habits begin in town on issue day. Proper dressing techniques should be discussed as soon as the group starts hiking. Teaching students to stay cool is as important as showing them how to stay warm, especially midsummer in the Uintas. Sunburn and snow blindness are avoidable with adequate instruction and student monitoring.
