Environmental Injuries and Illnesses

Introduction

Environmental injuries or illnesses are sustained as a result of extreme temperature and/or prolonged exposure to heat or cold (hot- or cold-related injury or illness). The body does not function well when it is too hot or too cold. These conditions cause heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, as well as cold-related injuries and illnesses such as hypothermia and frostbite. In all environmental injuries and illnesses, the focus is to return the casualty’s body temperature to a normal range.