Law enforcement officers are regularly called on to aid people found in dangerous situations caused by extreme weather conditions. However, officers must also have enough information to protect themselves from harm. The better prepared officers are to stay safe, the better able they are to protect the public, both by using the information they know and by passing it on to members of the public they interact with.
For example, officers working in a cold environment may be at risk of cold stress. A cold environment forces the body to work harder to maintain its temperature. Cold stress occurs by driving down the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature (core temperature). This may lead to serious health problems, including tissue damage and possibly death.
Some steps officers can take to prevent cold stress include:
– Wearing at least three layers of loose-fitting clothing.
– Changing out of wet clothing.
– Keeping an emergency kit in a patrol vehicle that contains traction aids, emergency flares, blankets, and food and water.
By contrast, extreme heat exposure provides different, but still dangerous, risks of illness. Heat exposure can lead to heat cramps, heat rash, or even heat stroke. Officers—who are often working outdoors and wearing heavy, hot equipment—can be at increased risk of heat-related illness, but some members of the public are also at increased risk. For example, children and older adults may be less able to regulate their body temperature for various reasons. Homeless populations also have less access to protection from both extreme heat and extreme cold.
Tips for avoiding heat-related illness include:
– Keeping a cooler in your patrol car with a spray bottle containing water.
– Drinking at least 8 ounces of water or sports drinks every hour.
– Passing on caffeinated or sugary drinks, which can promote dehydration.
Interested in learning more?
PLS offers police online self-study law enforcement training link: https://www.policelegalsciences.com/ on a wide variety of practical issues to help police officers make good decisions in challenging situations.