Environmental Health and Safety Plan draft for Staten Island Landfill,

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Staten Island Landfill Debris Disposal Operation Health and Safety Program

Immediately Seek or Contact Onsite Emergency Medical Assistance

Knowing that frostbite and hypothermia are closely related is important to helping to mitigate factors that can contribute to frostbite. These factors include extreme cold; wet clothes; high winds ("wind chill"); and poor circulation, which can be caused by tight clothing or boots, cramped positions, fatigue, certain medication, smoking, alcohol use, or diseases that affect the blood vessels, such as diabetes, poor fluid intake (fluid imbalance), and inadequate food. Wear suitable clothing in cold temperaturesand protect susceptible areas. In cold weather, wear mittens (not gloves); wind-proof, water-resistant, many-layered clothing; two pairs of socks (cotton next to skin, then wool); and a scarf and a hat that cover the ears (to avoid substantial heat loss through the scalp). Before anticipated prolonged exposure to cold, don't drink alcohol or smoke (both interfere with blood circulation), and get adequate food and rest. If caught in a severe snowstorm, find shelter early.

Frostbite

Frostbite is damage to the skin and underlying tissues caused by extreme cold. Frostbite occurs when the skin and body tissues are exposed to cold temperature for a prolonged period of time. Hands, feet, nose and ears are most likely to be affected. Although anyone who is exposed to freezing cold for a prolonged period of time can get frostbite, people who are taking beta-blockers, which decrease the flow of blood to the skin, are particularly susceptible. So are people with atherosclerosis (a disorder of the arteries). Other things that increase the risk of frostbite include smoking, windy weather (which increases the chill factor), diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy or Raynaud’s phenomenon.

The first symptoms are a "pins and needles" sensation followed by numbness. Frostbitten skin is hard, pale, cold, and has no feeling. When skin has thawed out, it becomes red and painful (early frostbite). With more severe frostbite, the skin may appear white and numb (tissue has started to freeze). Very severe frostbite may cause blister; gangrene (blackened tissue that died after blood vessels froze); or hard, frozen skin (frostbite can penetrate all the way down to blood vessels and bone).

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