tips

Fire Prevention

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: Home Fire Prevention and Preparedness

Fires and burns continue to be the third leading cause of unintentional injury death at home. In 2002 alone, 2,200 people lost their lives in home fires. Particularly at risk are the very young and the very old. Follow the safety tips listed below to protect yourself and your family.

Smoke Detectors

  • One is definitely NOT enough! Every home should be equipped with smoke detectors on every level, particularly outside of sleeping areas.
  • Ensure that your smoke detectors are tested monthly and batteries are replaced twice a year. Change batteries when you change your clocks.
  • Encourage children to help test the smoke detectors. Familiarize them with the sounds of the alarm(s).

Fire Extinguishers

  • Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher in your kitchen (one rated for grease fires and electrical fires.)
  • It’s a good idea to keep fire extinguishers near the furnace, garage, and anywhere else a fire may start. These extinguishers are affordable, life-saving equipment for your home.
  • Make sure every able-bodied member of the family is trained and familiar with the proper way to use the fire extinguishers.
  • If you must use an extinguisher, make sure you have a clear way out in the event you can’t put out the fire.

Flammables

  • Keep matches, lighters and candles out of reach and out of sight of children!
  • Smoking is dangerous! No one should ever smoke in bed. Make sure that cigarettes/cigars are extinguished properly before dumping ashes.
  • Avoid grease build-up in the kitchen and on appliances. Cooking fires are common. Don’t leave food cooking on stovetops unattended.
  • If a fire should occur, suffocate it with a pot/pan lid or a cookie sheet, or close the oven door.
  • Around the holidays, Christmas trees are a primary concern. Consider using an artificial tree that is labeled “flame resistant.” If you do use an evergreen, water it daily to keep it from drying out. Make sure to inspect stringed lights and window ornaments annually for deterioration.
  • Dispose of materials from fireplaces and grills in non-flammable containers.
  • Never put children to sleep in “day” clothes. Fire-retardant sleepwear can make a difference in burn outcomes.

Electrical Safety and Heat Sources

  • Make sure your electrical system is not being over-taxed. This can cause a fire. Do your lights dim or flicker when extra appliances are plugged in? If you have questions or concerns, consult a certified electrician.
  • Inspect wires. If you find any worn or exposed wiring from appliances, discontinue their use immediately! A fire is imminent!
  • Space heaters can be dangerous if not used correctly. Make sure yours will automatically shut off if tipped over. Consult the operating instructions to make sure you are using space heaters, gas fire places, and other heat sources as intended by the manufacturer. Keep all flammable materials away from heat sources! If there are young children in the house, make sure space heaters and hot water heaters are inaccessible.
  • Chimney fires are common. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned annually.
  • Keep appliances unplugged when not in use.

Escaping a Fire

  • Keep bedroom doors shut while sleeping. If you think there is a fire, feel the door and knob for heat before opening.
  • Have an escape route for each area of the home and a designated meeting place outside.
  • Draw a map-one that’s easy for all members of the family and visitors to understand.
  • When planning for a family with young children, be sure to teach them not to hide from fire or smoke and to go to firefighters who are there to help them.
  • All children should be familiar with the ideas of “crawling underneath the smoke” to escape a fire. “Stop, drop and roll” is another safety principle that must be ingrained into children’s minds.
  • Multi-storied buildings are of special concern. Ensure that everyone is familiar with how to use an escape ladder if necessary.
  • Make sure every sleeping room has two means of escape in the event of a fire. Windows provide a secondary means of escape. Ensure they are in proper working order, are not painted shut, and guards are able to be disengaged in case of fire and escape is necessary through that window.
  • Everyone must understand that once you escape, you must never reenter a burning building-no matter what you might have left behind.
  • Call emergency responders (911) from a neighbor’s house.
  • Make sure to practice your escape plan periodically. It will be easier to remember in case of an emergency.
  • Young children should know their street address and last name (and, of course, how to dial 911).
  • After you’ve planned for the family, don’t forget the pets. Alert firefighters about your pets. Don’t rely on window or door decals to alert firefighters-such decals are often found to be outdated. In the event your pet suffers from smoke inhalation, rush the animal to the vet.
View this list as a PDF.

Kitchen Fires

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: Kitchen Fires

  • Make sure the pilot light(s) always works.
  • Clean up accumulated grease.
  • Regularly clean or replace vent screens.
  • Don’t smoke in the kitchen.
  • Know the location, type and purpose of your fire extinguisher.
  • Avoid wearing loose clothing that can get caught in flames or appliances.
  • Use an approved fire extinguisher or baking soda to put out small flames. When frying or heating oil, make sure the pot or pan has a lid that the lid is handy. Cover a burning pan with a lid. If anyone’s clothing catches fire, the rule is to stop, drop and roll.
  • Keep the handles of pots and pans pointed toward the back of the stovetop.
  • When using a gas stove, turn off the flame before stirring, turning or flipping food. Turn it back on when you’re finished. If the stove is electric, warn children that it will stay hot, even after it has been turned off.
  • Don’t let anyone but adults put things in an oven or take them out.
  • Never leave a child alone when cooking or when an electrical appliance is within reach.
  • Talk to children about precautions in simple, clear terms. Young children need frequent reminders
  • Never leave appliance cords hanging from counter tops.
  • Remember the acronym “PASS:”P–Pull the pin, A–Aim extinguisher nozzle at the base of the flames, S–Squeeze trigger while holding the extinguisher upright, S–Sweep the extinguisher from side to side, covering the area of the fire with the extinguishing agent.
View PDF.

Poisons

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: Poisons

  1. Toddlers and preschoolers are the most likely to be poisoned, because they are curious, unpredictable and fearless. They imitate what they see grownups doing, which includes getting things out of cabinets and taking medicines.
  2. Adults have to make homes and daycare centers safe for children.
  3. Store all chemicals and medicines separately and safely, and in a locked cabinet. Putting them on a high shelf is worthless when it comes to kids who can climb.
  4. Don’t leave cosmetics, cleaners, vitamins or cigarettes on a shelf or counter.
  5. Never leave a container of hazardous material, even for a brief time. Poisonings often happen when an adult gets interrupted while using a product and leaves to answer the phone or to see who’s at the door.
  6. Don’t assume there is such a thing as a “child-proof” cap. Some are “child resistant,” but none are child-proof–they just take a little longer for an inquisitive and determined child to open.
  7. Know what to do in case of a poisoning.
  8. Don’t wait to see if the child appears sick. Have the phone number for the nearest Poison Center, and post it near the telephone.
  9. Ipecac syrup and activated charcoal are sometimes used as treatments for poisonings. They can be bought at the pharmacy without a prescription. Keep them in your first aid kit, but don’t given them to a child unless someone at a Poison Center tells you to.
View this list as a PDF.

Candles

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: Candles

The growing popularity of candles has spawned all-time highs in the number of fires started by candles (12,540 in 1998, for example, which killed 157 people and caused $176 million in property damage). About a third of these fires broke out when people left candles unattended and didn’t use them carefully. About a fifth of the fires started when people put candles too close to something. According to the NFPA, December is the month when fires caused by candles are most common. Nearly half of home candle fires start in the bedroom.

  1. When you leave a room or go to bed, put out all candles. Don’t trust a candle holder to contain a lit candle.
  2. Don’t put candles near things that burn: books, newspaper, tablecloths, clothing, wall hangings, pictures, curtains. Window sills, in particular, are not good places for lit candles.
  3. When you buy a candle holder, look for several features: it should be hard to tip over, made from a material that won’t burn, and should be able to catch melted wax. If you have a decorative holder that is flammable, keep a close eye on candles in it and put them out before the flame gets near the holder.
  4. Make sure that kids and pets can’t get near candles.
  5. If a candle’s wick gets too long, it can produce a dangerously large flame.
  6. Don’t buy candles that have flammable things embedded in them.
  7. Don’t leave children along in rooms with candles.
  8. Keep candles, matches and lighters in a high cabinet that children can’t see or reach.
  9. When the power goes out, you can light candles but don’t carry them around. Have a flashlight if you need to walk around and find supplies, your cell phone or other things.
  10. Don’t use a candle to check the pilot light on a stove, or to examine kerosene heaters or lanterns.
View this list as a PDF.

Painting

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: Painting

  1. Always read and follow the instructions on the label. You will have much better results in terms of how the paint covers, how it looks and how long it lasts. You will also learn how to avoid hazards, such as those posed by flammable paints.
  2. Oil-based paints will require you to work with paint thinner. Also, you must minimize exposure to oil-based paint vapors. Open windows and doors to let in fresh air; a box fan in a window will help.
  3. Pay attention to potential sources of flame or sparks. If you are painting in a kitchen, for example, where a gas stove has a pilot light, turn off the gas to the oven while you are painting and while the paint dries.
  4. Don’t smoke.
  5. If you spill paint or thinner, clean it up right away.
  6. Keep cans of paint and thinner closed.
  7. Protect your skin by wearing a long-sleeve shirt and long pants; this will also minimize the amount of skin you might have to clean with paint thinner.
  8. Wear solvent-resistant gloves and splash-proof goggles while cleaning brushes and equipment; some people wear gloves while painting, as well, because no matter how hard you try, paint ends up getting everywhere. The less contact your skin has with paint thinner, the better.
  9. If you feel dizzy or nauseated while painting, get into fresh air immediately.
  10. If you do get solvent on your skin, wash right away with soap and water.
  11. Follow the instructions for how to store paint and solvents. Make sure containers are tightly sealed. Don’t store paint or solvents near furnaces and space heaters.
  12. Keep paint away from children.
  13. Never re-use empty paint cans or solvent cans.

View this list as a PDF.

Winter Home Heating Hazards

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Consumers may experience a warmer than average winter this year according to the latest forecasts. But even if furnaces, space heaters, or fireplaces aren’t working as hard, consumers still need to remain vigilant against carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and fires in their home.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are urging consumers to schedule a professional inspection of all fuel-burning heating systems, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, water heaters, chimneys, flues and vents.

“Protect your family this winter,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. “The best way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning is to have a professional inspection every year and install working CO alarms in your home.”

“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. This colorless, odorless, poisonous gas kills nearly 500 U.S. residents each year, five times as many as West Nile virus,” according to Dr. Howard Frumkin, Director of the National Center for Environmental Health at the CDC. Dr. Frumkin said, “CO poisoning is a persistent and tragic public health problem that can be eliminated if people become aware of the danger and take some simple steps to protect themselves, their families and their pets.” Dr. Frumkin noted that CO poisoning is most common during the winter months, as this is not only when furnaces are most used, but also when the second leading source of CO poisoning, vehicles, is most likely to kill or injure people as they warm up their cars and trucks inside garages.

Each year, at least 15,000 Americans suffer from unintentional, non-fire related CO exposure, according to CDC estimates. CPSC reports that an estimated 188 people died in 2002 from CO poisoning associated with consumer products. The leading source of these poisonings is heating systems. According to the CPSC an estimated 103 deaths were associated with home heating systems that use liquid propane gas, natural gas, kerosene, oil, coal or wood. According to CDC, the most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. CO poisoning can cause loss of consciousness and death. People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die from CO poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms.

Gasoline-powered generators used during winter weather-related power outages can also be a source of carbon monoxide poisoning. In fact, according to CPSC, the largest percentage of CO deaths associated with portable generators take place in the winter months. Carbon monoxide from generators resulted in at least 64 deaths in 2005. CPSC and CDC urge consumers to use generators outside, far away from their homes. A generator’s exhaust contains deadly carbon monoxide which can kill in minutes.

Home heating equipment is one of the most common causes of residential structure fires, second only to cooking fires. CPSC statistics show that fireplaces and chimneys are the number one source of home heating equipment fires. They account for about 21,600, or 60 percent, of the nearly 36,000 estimated home heating equipment fires each year from 1999-2003.

Portable heaters, including space heaters, are the top cause of deaths in home heating equipment-related fires on average. Portable heater fires were responsible for about 100 of the total 240 estimated deaths each year associated with home heating equipment from 1999-2003.

To help prevent deaths and injuries, CPSC and CDC also urge consumers to:

  • Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
  • Install battery-operated CO and smoke alarms in your home.
  • Locate CO alarms outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area.
  • Locate smoke alarms on each level of the house and inside every bedroom.
  • Replace smoke and CO alarm batteries when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall and check batteries monthly.
  • If an alarm sounds, leave your home immediately and call 911.
  • Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, lightheaded or nauseous.
Fireplaces
  • Have flues and chimneys inspected before each heating season for leakage and blockage by creosote or debris.
  • Open the fireplace damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. Never close the damper if the ashes are still warm. An open damper may help prevent build-up of poisonous gases inside the home.
  • Store fireplace ashes in a fire resistant container and cover it with a lid. Keep the container outdoors and away from combustibles.
Space heaters
  • Place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep the heater at least three feet from bedding, drapes, furniture and other flammable materials. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
  • To prevent the risk of fire, NEVER leave a space heater on when you go to sleep or place a space heater close to any sleeping person. Turn the space heater off if you leave the area.
  • Use a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory. These heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features; older space heaters may not meet the newer safety standards. An unvented gas space heater that meets current safety standards will shut off if oxygen levels fall too low.
Charcoal grills
  • Never burn charcoal inside of homes, vehicles, tents, or campers. Charcoal should never be used indoors, even if ventilation is provided.

Source: http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/18661/

West Nile Virus

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: West Nile Virus

  1. This virus is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes and usually causes a mild illness. It may also cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain a nd spinal cord) or polio-like paralysis.
  2. This virus was first isolated in the West Nile region of Uganda in 1937, and was first identified in the United States in New York in 1999.
  3. Only a small proportion of mosquitoes are likely to be infected, and less than 1 percent of the people who get bitten by an infected mosquito become seriously ill.
  4. People over age 50 are at greater risk of severe illness.
  5. Mosquitoes are infected when they bite a bird that carries the virus. West Nile virus is not spread from person to person or directly from birds to humans, but some cases have resulted from blood transfusion and organ transplants.
  6. The symptoms of West Nile virus infection may be mild or serious. Mild illness includes fever and muscle aches, swollen lymph glands and sometimes a skin rash. In the elderly, infection may spread to the nervous system or bloodstream and cause sudden fever, intense headache, and stiff neck and confusion, possibly resulting in encephalitis or meningitis. Healthy children and adults may not have any symptoms.
  7. Symptoms appear 3 to 14 days after exposure but may appear as soon as 1 day after exposure or as late as 7 or more days.
  8. A person who gets West Nile virus probably cannot get it again.
  9. There is no specific treatment for the virus. Most people recover from this illness. There is no vaccine for humans.
  10. West Nile virus infection can be prevented by controlling the mosquito population and protecting against mosquito bites.
  11. More information on West Nile virus is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm
View this list as a PDF

Heat Illness

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: Heat Illness

Heat-related illnesses aren’t just a summer hazard. People exercise in steamy gyms, wearing heavy clothes in order to sweat more. Sailors work in hot shipboard workspaces.

  • Know how to recognize the three most common types of heat-related illness: heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps.
  • Heat strokes are the most severe, are can be fatal. Symptoms include a temperature to as high as 105 degrees; hot, red, and dry skin; a rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing.
  • As first aid for a heat stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. Wrap damp sheets around the victim and start fanning them. Wrap cold packs in a cloth and place them on the victim’s wrists and ankles, in the armpits and on the neck.
  • Victims of heat exhaustion will have a normal temperature, but will have other symptoms: cool, moist, pale skin; heavy sweating; headache, nausea or vomiting and dizziness.
  • Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms that result form intense exertion. Cramps most often attack the abdomen and legs.
  • To avoid heat illnesses:
    • Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing,
    • Drinking plenty of water,
    • Take regular breaks,
    • Eating small meals.

View this list as a PDF.

Lifting and Carrying

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: Lifting and Carrying

Eight out of ten adults will have problems with their lower backs. You can increase your odds of being one of the twenty percent who escape these pains by following the following tips.

  • Injuries usually occur because of two reasons. First, when back muscles are weak; second, because of poor techniques for lifting and carrying.
  • Take a few minutes each day to strengthen and stretch your back muscles.
  • Wear shoes that offer good support and good traction.
  • Keep a wide stance and make sure of your footing.
  • Keep the load close to your body.
  • Lift steadily with your legs, not your back. Keep your head up and your back straight.
  • Point your feet in the direction you plan to move. Don’t twist.
  • Put down the load by squatting down, not bending over.
  • If you are using a cart or dolly to move a heavy load, push it, don’t pull it.

View this list as a PDF

Hydration

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: Hydration

  • Drink enough water, but it is a little more complicated than that.
  • During and after most physical activity, it doesn’t matter whether you drink water or sports drinks as long as you drink something to replace fluids.
  • For rehydration after short periods of routine exercise, water is fine.
  • After extended periods of exercise or exertion, sports drinks containing carbohydrates and electrolytes help prevent dehydration and restore important minerals that are lost when you sweat.
  • There is some supporting evidence that electrolyte/carbohydrate formulas may enhance performance, endurance and recovery, particularly for the elite/endurance athlete and after long-term strenuous activity, such as marathons and full triathlons.
  • If you drink too much water, there is the hazard of “water intoxication” and hyponatremia (low blood sodium)

View this list as a PDF

Sun Burn Tips

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: Sunburn

  • Use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15.
  • Some types are waterproof, but even so, you should reapply the sunscreen every two hours
  • Use sunscreen on cloudy days, too.
  • It may be slightly uncomfortable in the heat, but you should wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants.
  • Also put on a hat with a large brim and sunglasses.
  • If you have a choice, stay in the shade. Beach umbrellas will protect you from some of the sun exposure. They are actually very comfortable on sunny days.
  • Remember that children’s skin is even more sensitive that yours. They can start wearing sunscreen by the time they are six months old. Even so, minimize their exposure.
  • Avoid tanning parlors.
  • The sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Hit the beach early, use the main part of the day for other activities, then go back later in the afternoon.

View this list as a PDF

Respiration Protection

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: Respiratory Protection

  • Sometimes the air where you work contains hazardous contaminants or doesn’t have enough oxygen. The OSHA term for these conditions is IDLH: “immediately dangerous to life and health.”
  • If these problems can’t be solved with mechanical ventilation, you must wear a respirator
  • The three main types are supplied-air respirators, which provide pressurized breathing air; self-contained units that have air in a tank that you carry on your bank; and air-purifying respirators, the use filters to clean the air you breathe.
  • Respirators must always be fit-tested to make sure they seal correctly to your face, and that there are no leaks.
  • Each time you use your respirator, check to make sure that all connections are tight; that it is in good condition and hasn’t been damaged; that it seals correctly on your face; and that the filters haven’t exceeded their useful life.
  • Learn how to perform both a negative-pressure check and a positive-pressure check on your respirator.
  • Escape respirators are only for emergencies; don’t use them during normal work.
  • Respirator maintenance is a critical part of any respiratory protection program. Users must know how to:
    • remove and replace filters, cartridges and canisters
    • disassemble and reassemble the respirator
    • recognize, discard and replace broken parts
    • clean and disinfect dirty respirators
    • store a respirator to keep it clean and protect it from damage and contamination.

View this list as a PDF

Frost Bite

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: Preventing Frostbite and Hypothermia

Prolonged exposure to low temperatures, wind or moisture-whether it be on a ski slope or in a stranded car-can result in cold-related illnesses such as frostbite and hypothermia. The National Safety Council offers these tips to help you spot and put a halt to these winter hazards.

How to detect and treat cold-related illnesses

Frostbite is the most common injury resulting from exposure to severe cold. Superficial frostbite is characterized by white, waxy, or grayish-yellow patches on the affected areas. The skin feels cold and numb. The skin surface feels stiff but underlying tissue feels soft and pliable when depressed. Treat superficial frostbite by taking the victim inside immediately. Remove any constrictive clothing items that could impair circulation. If you notice signs of frostbite, immediately seek medical attention. Place dry, sterile gauze between toes and fingers to absorb moisture and to keep them from sticking together. Slightly elevate the affected part to reduce pain and swelling. If you are more than one hour from a medical facility and you have warm water, place the frostbitten part in the water (102 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit). If you do not have a thermometer, test the water first to see if it is warm, not hot. Rewarming usually takes 20 to 40 minutes or until tissues soften.

Deep frostbite usually affects the feet or hands and is characterized by waxy, pale, solid skin. Blisters may appear. Treat deep frostbite by moving the victim indoors and immediately seek medical attention.

Hypothermia occurs when the body’s temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of this condition include change in mental status, uncontrollable shivering, cool abdomen and a low core body temperature. Severe hypothermia may produce rigid muscles, dark and puffy skin, irregular heart and respiratory rates, and unconsciousness. Treat hypothermia by protecting the victim from further heat loss and calling for immediate medical attention. Get the victim out of the cold. Add insulation such as blankets, pillows, towels or newspapers beneath and around the victim. Be sure to cover the victim’s head. Replace wet clothing with dry clothing. Handle the victim gently because rough handling can cause cardiac arrest. Keep the victim in a horizontal (flat) position. Give artificial respiration or CPR (if you are trained) as necessary.

How to prevent cold-related illnesses

Avoid frostbite and hypothermia when you are exposed to cold temperatures by wearing layered clothing, eating a well-balanced diet, and drinking warm, non-alcoholic, caffeine-free liquids to maintain fluid levels. Avoid becoming wet, as wet clothing loses 90 percent of its insulating value.

View these tips as a PDF

Hypothermia

Posted on by SafetyMoment

Safety Tips: Hypothermia

When your core body temperature falls suddenly below its normal level of 98.6 F, your are hypothermic. Skiers, hikers and fisherman are at risk, and this condition can occur unexpectedly, even on days when the temperature is 60 degrees. All it takes is wet clothes and a brisk breeze. Other factors can contribute, such as if you are hungry and tired, or if you’ve been drinking alcohol.

  • You may not be aware of the condition, and others may not notice until your core body temperature has dropped dangerously low.
  • To treat someone for hypothermia, gradually warm their body. Get them out of wet or cold clothing, and wrap them in layers of dry, warm clothing. Give them something warm to drink (avoid alcohol and caffeine).
  • Don’t move the victim unless staying put is even more risky or dangerous.
  • To avoid hypothermia:
    • Wear clothes that are made of wool and that are windproof. In spite of advances in synthetic fibers, wool is still a superior insulator.
    • Wear loose garments that don’t restrict your circulation.
    • Layers of light clothing are better than a heavy layer.
    • If you get wet, change into dry clothes.
    • Keep your hands, head, and feet covered–that’s where your body loses the most heat.
  • Pay attention to the forecast winds as well as the temperature when deciding what to wear.
  • Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the chill. Victims of mild hypothermia often shiver uncontrollably and appear clumsy. Moderate hypothermia slur their speech, appear dazed and act irrationally. Sometimes they don’t feel cold. Victims of severe hypothermia have dilated pupils, pale skin, a slow pulse. Their muscles become rigid, and they eventually stop shivering. Ultimately, they collapse, and in the final stages, stop breathing.

View this list as a PDF