\cite{1996}Introduction

Cold weather emergencies can lead to a variety of different health and safety challenges. The effects of cold weather emergencies on the body can be better understood by observing the differences in motor function and homeostasis within the body when it is exposed to frigid temperatures. It is expected that after the body is exposed to a cold environment, the motor function will decrease, and homeostatic tendencies will increase in an attempt to return the body to homeostasis. When a part of the body is exposed to cold temperatures, such as the hand or arm, heat is transferred to towards the environment. 
This research will allow for one to better understand the physiological effects of such temperatures on the body.
This knowledge can further be applied in a clinical setting to reduce the muscle twitching effects of different diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease and Cerebral Palsy.
Humans have the ability to adjust to colder temperatures.  The body has 2 compartments. The body’s inside core (containing heat producing organs) is regulated to keep heat in, and the body’s outside ‘shell’ (skin and subcutaneous fat) is regulated to permit heat transfer in and out of the body regardless of the environment.  In cold temperatures, enzymatic activity decreases. This means that cellular processes and overall body function is slow/lost. Body temperature is regulated by the hypothalamus, specifically the posterior hypothalamus to control heat generation and conservation. Heat loss can be due to radiation (60%), evaporation (20%), convection (15%), conduction (5%).  Heat by radiation, convection, and conduction are determined by the difference between the skin surface and environment. By affecting the temperature of the outer ‘shell’, by altering the amount of warm blood flowing through it and how close this blood gets to the surface, the rate of heat loss can be controlled. A cold stimulus causes vasoconstriction in the peripheral NS to reduce the temperature of the skin, and therefore heat loss.  For heat generation, muscle activity is the main mechanism. This can be shivering or physical exercise to increase heat production up to 20 times. However, these mechanisms are energy consuming.  They permit an increase of blood flow to the muscle to produce heat, and therefore heat loss. Hypothermia cools the core of the body and slows down cellular reactions. Energy expenditure falls 13% for every 1 degree C.   Elderly and babies are at greatest risk.  In the winter, mobility can be greatly reduced.  Alcohol vasodilates the outer ‘shell’ increasing heat loss.     

Methods

The test subject should fill out a pre-experiment questionnaire. Explain to the subject what will happen in the experiment. Have subject sit in a relaxed position, then strap the pulse transducer on the index finger of the non-dominant hand to get the pulse of the subject. Keep the pulse transducer on the index finger of the non-dominant hand and place the hand dynamometer into their dominant hand. Allow subject to grip the dynamometer with maximum force for one minute. Remove grip dynamometer from the subject. Set up the sphygmomanometer onto the subject's non-dominant arm and use the stethoscope to determine the blood pressure of the subject. Leave the sphygmomanometer on the subject's non-dominant arm and set up the push button transducer for the subject's dominant hand. Have the subject push the transducer as soon as the stimulus is given (visual and auditory cues). Remove the push transducer from the subject's dominant hand. Next, have subject submerge their dominant hand up to their forearm in ice water at 5 degrees Celsius for one minute. When the dominant arm is submerged in the water, use the pulse transducer on the opposite index finger to determine the pulse of the subject. After one minute, have the subject remove their hand from the ice water, quickly dry off the arm, and place the hand dynamometer back into the palm of the subject. Tell the subject to grip as hard as they can for one minute to determine maximum grip strength. Remove pulse transducer from non-dominant hand and remove the hand dynamometer from the dominant hand. Have the subject relax for 3 minutes. Next, have the subject submerge their dominant hand back into the cold water for one minute. Use the sphygmomanometer to determine the subject's blood pressure while in the cold water. After one minute have the subject remove their hand from the ice water, quickly dry off the arm, and set up the push button transducer into the dominant hand of the subject. Have the subject push the transducer as soon as the stimulus is given (visual and auditory cues). Remove the sphygmomanometer and the push button from the subject and have them return to a relaxed position.
Materials:
Stimulating bar electrode with hand dynamometer to test grip fatigue
Pulse transducer to detect the change in pulse due to temperature
Sphygmomanometer with a stethoscope to detect the change in blood pressure due to cold temperature
Push button transducer to measure reflexes and reaction times

Study population

Male and Female students between the ages of 18-23 years old

Procedure 1 (Baseline Grip Strength and Heart Rate)

Have subject sit in a relaxed position, then strap the pulse transducer on the index finger of the non-dominant hand to get the pulse of the subject. Keep the pulse transducer on the index finger of the non-dominant hand and place the hand dynamometer into their dominant hand. Allow subject to grip the dynamometer with maximum force for one minute. Remove grip dynamometer from the subject.

Procedure 2 (Baseline Blood Pressure and Reaction Time)

Set up the sphygmomanometer onto the subject's non-dominant arm and use the stethoscope to determine the blood pressure of the subject. Leave the sphygmomanometer on the subject's non-dominant arm and set up the push button transducer for the subject's dominant hand. Have the subject push the transducer as soon as the stimulus is given (visual and auditory cues). Remove the push transducer from the subject's dominant hand.

Procedure 3 (Grip Strength and Heart Rate after cold water submersion)

Have subject submerge their dominant hand up to their forearm in ice water at 5 degrees Celsius for one minute. When the dominant arm is submerged in the water, use the pulse transducer on the opposite index finger to determine the pulse of the subject. After one minute, have the subject remove their hand from the ice water, quickly dry off the arm, and place the hand dynamometer back into the palm of the subject. Tell the subject to grip as hard as they can for one minute to determine maximum grip strength. Remove pulse transducer from non-dominant hand and remove the hand dynamometer from the dominant hand. Have the subject relax for 3 minutes.

Procedure 4 (Blood Pressure and Reaction time after cold water submersion)

Have the subject submerge their dominant hand back into the cold water for one minute. Use the sphygmomanometer to determine the subject's blood pressure while in the cold water. After one minute have the subject remove their hand from the ice water, quickly dry off the arm, and set up the push button transducer into the dominant hand of the subject. Have the subject push the transducer as soon as the stimulus is given (visual and auditory cues). Remove the sphygmomanometer and the push button from the subject and have them return to a relaxed position.

Protocol

Statistical analysis

Results

Subheading for results 1 (e.g. Effects of exercise on heart rate)

 

Subheading for results 2

Subheading for results 3 etc.