File: State of Alaska: Cold Weather Injury Treament Guidelines

This detailed document is prepared by:

Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Health
Section of Community Health and EMS
Box 110616
Juneau, AK 99811-0616

http://www.chems.alaska.gov

TABLE OF CONTENTS

HYPOTHERMIA........................................................................................................ 4
General Points............................................................................................................................ 4
Classifications of Level of Hypothermia .................................................................................... 8
First Responder/Emergency Medical Technician-I .................................................................. 12
Emergency Medical Technician-II............................................................................................ 15
Emergency Medical Technician-III/Paramedic ........................................................................ 19
Small/Bush Clinic ..................................................................................................................... 23
Hospital.................................................................................................................................... 24
COLD WATER NEAR DROWNING................................................. 29
General Points.......................................................................................................................... 29
General Public.......................................................................................................................... 30
First Responder/Emergency Medical Technician-I..................................................................... 31
Emergency Medical Technician-II Emergency Medical Technician-III Paramedic .................... 32
Hospital.................................................................................................................................... 34
FROSTBITE................................................................................................................... 36
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 36
General Points........................................................................................................................... 37
First Responder/Emergency Medical Technician-I, II, III/Paramedic Small/Bush Clinic ........... 39
Hospital .................................................................................................................................... 41
AVALANCHE RESCUE................................................................................... 45
Introduction.............................................................................................................................. 45
General Points.......................................................................................................................... 46
General Public.......................................................................................................................... 47
First Responder/Emergency Medical Technician-I .................................................................. 48
Emergency Medical Technician-II; Emergency Medical Technician-III; Paramedic ............. 49
Small Bush Clinic ..................................................................................................................... 50
Hospital.................................................................................................................................... 51
APPENDIX A: MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE HYPOTHERMIC PATIENT ................. 53
APPENDIX B: SUGGESTED READING LIST ......................................................................... 54
TEMPERATURE CONVERSIONS ............................................................................................ 58
Revision History ........................................................................................................................... 60