Why freezing temperatures in earthquake-hit areas are so dangerous
Those circumstances have turned the aftermath into an emergency in an emergency — increasing the dangers for those trapped under the rubble, for survivors without adequate shelter, and for rescue workers who spend long hours digging.
Hypothermia begins when a person’s core temperature drops below 95 degrees and becomes severe at 86 degrees. The brain’s built-in thermostat, the hypothalamus, triggers a cascade of reactions:
Cheeks turn red as surface blood vessels dilate periodically to preserve skin tissue.
Muscles tremble to produce heat.
Blood vessels in the skin and extremities constrict to concentrate heat around the core.
That leaves the body vulnerable to frostnip, when ice crystals form in and around cells and cause temporary pain, tingling, numbness and loss of dexterity.
Hairs stand on end (goosebumps). In furry mammals, the reaction traps insulating air next to the skin, but it doesn’t help humans.
Thinking becomes confused and speech slurred. The person loses coordination and eventually consciousness.
To breathe becomes shallow.
If the blood vessels remain constricted, frostnip can turn into frostbite as blood-starved cells begin to die. The skin becomes hard and waxy and often purple or black.
Sources: US National Library of Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Medical News Today, WebMD.
BONNIE BERKOWITZ AND PATTERSON CLARK
THE WASHINGTON POST
Hypothermia begins when a person’s core temperature drops below 95 degrees and becomes severe at 86 degrees. The brain’s built-in thermostat, the hypothalamus, triggers a cascade of reactions:
Thinking becomes confused and speech slurred. The person loses coordination and eventually consciousness.
Cheeks turn red as surface blood vessels dilate periodically to preserve skin tissue.
Muscles tremble to produce heat.
Blood vessels in the skin and extremities constrict to concentrate heat around the core. That leaves the body vulnerable to frostnip, when ice crystals form in and around cells and cause temporary pain, tingling, numbness and loss of dexterity.
To breathe becomes shallow.
If the blood vessels remain constricted, frostnip can turn into frostbite as blood-starved cells begin to die. The skin becomes hard and waxy and often purple or black.
Hairs stand on end (goosebumps). In furry mammals, the reaction traps insulating air next to the skin, but it doesn’t help humans.
Sources: US National Library of Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Medical News Today, WebMD.
BONNIE BERKOWITZ AND PATTERSON CLARK / THE WASHINGTON POST
These are frigid conditions that are hard to bear for someone who isn’t dressed in lots of warm layers, said E. John Wipfler III, a clinical professor at the University of Illinois at Peoria College of Medicine.
The earthquake occurred around 4:17 a.m. local time. People were mostly sleeping at home, not adequately dressed for the cold outside, said Pranav Shetty, a humanitarian health adviser with global health and relief organization Project Hope.
In addition, many of the victims sustained trauma from the quake, he said, adding that their blood loss and injuries make them more vulnerable.
Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures increases the likelihood of frostbite — an injury in which skin or tissue freezes, usually starting at the body’s extremities. The most serious concern is hypothermia – when a low body temperature can become fatal.
Hypothermia gets progressively worse as exposure continues, Wipfler explains.
People experience hypothermia when their body temperature drops below 95 degrees. Once that starts, their chances of dying from injuries sustained from the earthquakes immediately increase. As their temperature drops, it becomes harder for them to shiver, leaving the humans with no way to retain their body heat.
After that, it becomes more difficult for them to communicate or call for help, and they begin to lose consciousness. The hypothermia becomes severe at a body temperature of 86 degrees and the risk of death becomes acute.
What makes the situation particularly critical is the moisture generated by intermittent rains in the region, said Rachel Dowty Beech, associate professor and coordinator of the University of New Haven’s emergency management program.
Hypothermia can occur even at low temperatures when a person is wet because damp clothing and moisture on the skin draw heat out of the body more quickly. Both cold and wet conditions are present in Turkey and Syria.
This happens in part through conduction, or the process of losing body heat through contact with an object. For example, by lying on a cold concrete slab or wooden floor, someone becomes hypothermic more quickly.
Harsh weather conditions are also not conducive to long working days for aid workers. Rescue work is very technical and time-consuming, with some rescue sites requiring hours of physical work, Shetty said. The cold certainly reduces their efficiency and may require more rotations from teams, he said.
With thousands of buildings destroyed, those who have lost their homes must now seek adequate shelter for warmth. Both countries will have to provide and maintain common emergency shelters. This comes on top of the large vulnerable and displaced population, especially in northwestern Syria, which did not have adequate shelter even before the earthquake.