Heat Illness and Cold Stress Prevention

How heat and cold affect the body, how to recognize heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hypothermia and frostbite, and how to build water, rest, shade, acclimatization and emergency plans that keep crews safe.

Heat and cold injure and kill workers every year, mostly in outdoor and hot-indoor jobs, and nearly all of these cases are preventable. This course explains how the body gains and loses heat, why humidity, workload, clothing and new-worker status matter, and how to use the heat index, WBGT and wind chill to judge risk. You will learn the signs and first aid for heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hypothermia, frostbite and trench foot, how to set up water, rest and shade, how to acclimatize new and returning workers, how to build a written heat and cold plan, and how supervisors and coworkers should watch for trouble. It is an awareness-level course based on OSHA and NIOSH guidance and does not replace your employer's plan or your state's heat rules.

What you’ll learn

  • Explain how the body handles heat and cold and what raises risk
  • Use the heat index, WBGT and wind chill to judge conditions
  • Recognize and give first aid for heat illness and cold injury
  • Plan water, rest, shade, acclimatization and work scheduling
  • Choose clothing and PPE for hot and cold work
  • Build and follow a written heat and cold emergency plan

Who it’s for

Construction, landscaping, farm, warehouse, delivery and utility workers, tradespeople, supervisors, safety coordinators and anyone who works in hot, cold or changing weather. No experience is needed.

Course outline

Module 1: How Heat and Cold Affect the Body 3 lessons · quiz

How the body balances heat, what makes heat and cold dangerous, and how to measure the risk.

  • How the body handles heat 12 min Free preview
  • How the body handles cold 10 min
  • Measuring the risk 12 min
Module 2: Recognizing and Treating Heat and Cold Injuries 3 lessons · quiz

The signs of each heat and cold illness, and the first aid that saves lives.

  • Heat illnesses from mild to deadly 14 min Free preview
  • Cold injuries 12 min
  • Special situations 10 min
Module 3: Preventing Heat Illness 3 lessons · quiz

Water, rest, shade, acclimatization and work planning for hot weather.

  • Water, rest and shade 14 min Free preview
  • Acclimatization 10 min
  • Planning the work and the day 12 min
Module 4: Preventing Cold Stress and Building a Plan 3 lessons · quiz

Layering, warming breaks, work planning in the cold, and the written plan that ties heat and cold together.

  • Dressing and working in the cold 12 min Free preview
  • Vehicles, water and special cold risks 10 min
  • Your written heat and cold plan 12 min

What’s included

  • 12 lessons you can read at your own pace, on a phone or a computer
  • A short quiz after every module, with the correct answer shown for any you miss
  • A final exam of 20 questions (pass at 80% or higher)
  • A numbered certificate of completion with a QR code anyone can scan to verify it
  • Your progress saved to your account, with access that doesn’t expire

Please read: this is a self-paced online learning course. It is not an OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 card, a license, or a government certification, and it does not by itself meet any training requirement in OSHA or state standards. Employers must still provide required, site-specific training and decide who is a competent or qualified person. See the full disclaimer.

Questions

Can an employer check my certificate? Yes. Each certificate has a number and a QR code that opens a public verification page on this site.

Can I get a refund? Yes, within 7 days of purchase if you have completed less than 25% of the course and haven’t earned its certificate. Email support@toddallynmedia.com. Details are in section 13 of the Terms of Use. Payment is handled by PayPal; we never see your card details.

What do I need? A free account and any phone, tablet or computer. Questions or problems? Email support@toddallynmedia.com.

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