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Health-check questionnaire for subjects exposed to cold
Juhani Hassi1, Veli-Pekka Raatikka, Maire Huurre
1Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland. juhani.hassi@oulu.fi
Background:
Human exposure to cold outdoor and indoor temperatures below 10 degrees C may be associated with various cold-related sensations and symptoms. It is not possible to predict a person's survival ability only by assessing thermal environments; but individual screening is always required for good health care practice with regards to treatment and/or prevention.
Methods:
As part of a development project, a health-check questionnaire was developed for the workers exposed to cold. The completion of the development was carried out in the framework of a Nordic collaboration.
Results:
This was three-level medical screening protocol for detecting individual cold-related health ailments. "The health-check questionnaire for subjects exposed to cold" comprises the first step of the screening protocol. The medical screening was harmonized with the assessment practices for cold-related health risks in the workplaces.
Conclusion:
A "health-check questionnaire for subjects exposed to cold" was developed as the first step of the three-level medical screening for the detection of cold-related health ailments of individuals. The analogical assessment practices for the cold-related health risks in the workplaces were developed in the same project. They both aim towards the establishment of an ISO standard for working in cold environments.