Frigid PolesExtreme Environment

Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems

•Breathing cold, dry air causes narrowing of the airways. This restricts airflow into and out of the

lungs and makes breathing more difficult. •Your body tries to keep itself at 98.6 F

(homeostasis). In order for that to happen, your body must pump blood faster through your veins

to keep the rest of your body at 98.6F •As your pulse increases, the need for oxygen

also increases since your lungs transfer oxygen to the blood.

•Without breathing your body cannot transfer

oxygen to your muscles. In the cold, this is especially important so your cells don’t die.

Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems Continued

• Cold weather puts stress on both systems. These reactions include constriction of blood vessels in the skin, shallow breathing through the mouth, and thickening of the blood, all of which can lead indirectly to chest pain.

• Cold lowers the heart's supply of blood, while

exertion raises the demand for it. This imbalance can also cause attacks of chest pain.

• Cold exposure can raise blood pressure. To

stay warm, the muscles contract to stop the flow of blood to the arms and legs. This reroutes extra blood to the vital organs and boosts the blood pressure.

Muscular System

•The muscles are usually very stiff, especially the neck, arms, and legs

•Trembling is also very common, sometimes limited to only one side of the body or one arm

or leg •Shivering, the involuntary contraction and

relaxation of skeletal muscles, happens when the body tries to keep itself warm

•Shivering can be an unpleasant sensation especially if, as happens with severe bouts of

shivering, every muscle of the body shake.

Common Injuries of Cold Weather

• Hypothermia• Frost- nip• Frostbite

Cold-weather injuries are very common due to the extreme cooling of

the body

Useful Equipment in Frigid Poles• A lot of layers to stay warm

-Coats, gloves, scarves, boots, snow pants, hats and sweaters

• UV protective sunglasses• Whistle• First Aid Kit• Snow Mobile• Sleeping Bag• Fresh water• Matches