Walk-in freezers are essential for storing various products, ensuring the freshness of food and extending the shelf life of other items. However, the low-temperature environment poses significant risks to the personnel who need to enter. If someone gets trapped inside, their life could be in grave danger. Therefore, knowing survival techniques and strategies in a walk-in freezer is crucial.
Environment of Walk-in Freezers
First, let’s understand the environment of a walk-in freezer. If you find yourself trapped inside, even the safety release latch might not easily open the door, leaving you to face the harsh reality of:
Severe Low Temperatures
The interior temperature of a walk-in freezer is typically maintained at -18°C (0°F) or lower.
Robust and Sealed Structure
The walls, ceiling, and floor of a walk-in freezer are usually constructed from 120mm to 200mm thick insulated panels. Once assembled, these panels are sealed with caulking and gaskets at the seams and door edges to minimize cold air leakage. Sometimes, PVC strip curtains are also installed at the door to further reduce cold air loss.
Limited Escape Tools
The freezer is filled with rows of shelves or pallets packed with products, making it difficult to find useful escape tools or equipment under normal circumstances. If you’re fortunate enough to be inside for equipment maintenance with a toolbox, those tools might be your primary means of escape.
Dim Lighting
The anti-freeze lighting inside a walk-in freezer only provides dim illumination.
Dangers Inside a Walk-in Freezer
Being trapped in a walk-in freezer is akin to being confined in a sealed, robust, and extremely cold metal box. You will face various dangers, and your life will be at great risk.
Hypothermia
The low temperatures inside a walk-in freezer cause your body heat to rapidly dissipate, and your temperature to start dropping. Your skin will gradually lose color, your hands and feet will become cold, and your body will begin to shiver. When your core body temperature falls below 35°C (95°F), hypothermia sets in.
Mild Hypothermia (32°C – 35°C / 89.6°F – 95°F): At this stage, you may experience difficulty concentrating, impaired judgment, and slight confusion.
Moderate Hypothermia (28°C – 32°C / 82.4°F – 89.6°F): Your shivering will decrease or stop, breathing, heart rate, and pulse will slow down, movements will become sluggish, and you will start feeling very sleepy.
Severe Hypothermia (below 28°C / 82.4°F): At this stage, you will experience severe confusion, unconsciousness, and potentially death.
Frostbite
Low temperatures often bring another severe danger: frostbite. Prolonged exposure to the extreme cold in a freezer can cause frostbite on exposed body parts such as the face, ears, hands, and feet, potentially leading to tissue damage.
Oxygen Deprivation
Cold is not the only danger you will face. Remember, a walk-in freezer is an enclosed space. Over time, the oxygen level inside will decrease, leading to oxygen deprivation.
Worse still, the carbon dioxide you exhale will gradually increase in concentration. When the CO2 level in the air reaches 2%, you will experience severe health effects such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. If the CO2 level reaches 5%, it can lead to life-threatening conditions within a short period.
Slipping
Additionally, the low temperatures in a freezer can cause the floor to become icy and slippery, increasing the risk of falls.
Self-Rescue Techniques and Strategies
Stay Calm
If you find yourself trapped inside a walk-in freezer and cannot open the door using the internal safety release latch, the most important thing is to stay calm. Panic can impair your judgment and decision-making, causing you to overlook possible ways to call for help. Additionally, panic will increase your breathing rate, which consumes more energy, accelerates the drop in body temperature, and increases the risk of physical exhaustion.
Preventing Hypothermia and Frostbite
In the low-temperature environment of a walk-in freezer, take measures to keep yourself warm. Check if the freezer is equipped with an emergency survival kit. If you find blankets or other warming items, use them. If not, use available materials such as plastic bags and cardboard to create makeshift clothing or a tent to retain heat. Cover exposed skin to minimize the risk of frostbite.
Additionally, metal floors are excellent conductors of energy, and they will draw heat from your body upon contact. To avoid direct contact with the cold metal floor, use materials like plastic bags or cardboard to create a thick layer to stand or sit on, providing insulation and reducing heat loss.
Look for Possible Alternative Exits
If the main door of the freezer cannot be opened, check for any other potential exits, such as ventilation shafts. If you determine that the main door is the only exit, use any available tools inside the freezer, such as sturdy items from the shelves, to try to pry open or break down the door.
Send a Distress Signal
Most walk-in freezers are equipped with an alarm button. In case of an emergency, pressing this button will trigger an alarm outside the freezer, alerting distant staff to the problem. A cell phone is also an important communication tool; if it is functioning and has signal, immediately call emergency services or a relevant contact for help.
If, unfortunately, the freezer lacks an alarm button, and you do not have a cell phone or signal, you will need to use available tools inside the freezer to make noise and attract attention from the outside.
Conserve Energy and Wait for Rescue
After taking the above measures, your primary task is to wait for rescue. During this time, it’s crucial to conserve your energy. Minimize unnecessary movements to save strength. Adjust your breathing rhythm; rapid breathing will consume more energy in the cold environment, while slow, deep breaths can help conserve it. If there are edible items in the freezer, consume them to replenish your energy. You can also reduce heat loss by curling up to minimize contact with cold surfaces.
Seek Medical Attention Promptly
Once you are safely rescued, seek medical attention promptly. Have your health checked to ensure you haven’t suffered any harm, and follow medical advice for recovery.
Preventive Measures
Mastering the survival techniques and strategies outlined can maximize your chances of surviving if trapped in a walk-in freezer, but prevention is equally crucial to avoid irreparable loss of life.
For businesses, it’s essential to equip walk-in freezers with alarm systems, surveillance cameras, and emergency survival kits. Regularly check the safety release latches on freezer doors to ensure they are not damaged, and provide staff with relevant training to ensure they can quickly seek help and receive timely rescue if trapped.
For individuals, inform someone of your work schedule and the estimated time of exit before entering the freezer. This way, if something goes wrong, they can notice any unusual signs and seek help for you. Additionally, wear warm clothing, including thermal hats, face masks, and gloves, when entering the freezer. If necessary, also wear non-slip shoes to reduce the risk of slipping.
Conclusion
Prevention is crucial and should not be overlooked. Implementing preventive measures regularly is essential. If you find yourself locked inside a walk-in freezer, employing the right survival techniques and strategies can maximize your chances of survival. Staying calm, effectively using available tools, and conserving energy are key to self-rescue. We hope this article provides you with valuable guidance.
