DOI: 10.30565/medalanya.1759429 ISSN: 2587-0319

Prehospital Assessment of Cold Exposure in Casualties Following a Chairlift Malfunction

Ayça Çalbay
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Aim: Hypothermia is a preventable condition frequently encountered in emergency medical services at high-altitude ski resorts. This study aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients affected during a high-altitude cable car malfunction and prehospital management priorities after cold exposure caused by a chairlift malfunction.Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 18 adult victims exposed to temperatures between –7°C and –24°C for 90–180 minutes at altitudes of 2.230–2.507 meters were analyzed. Body temperature was measured using a non-contact infrared thermometer. Patients were categorized as cold stress (35–37°C) or mild hypothermia (32–35°C). Vital signs, symptom distribution across 30-minute exposure intervals, hospital arrival times, and triage codes were statistically compared (p

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