Installing a new Cooler? How to develop a plan of action.
Imagine it’s late at night. Your workplace is finally closed, and you’re the last one there putting away produce or a case of beer in the walk-in freezer. The door shuts behind you. When you try to exit, the door won’t open. The latch is jammed, or the electronic button that opens the door from the inside is broken. The freezer’s thick walls are blocking WiFi and the phone signal, so you have no way of reaching help until someone else comes into work in the morning. What happens now?
If you are ever in this terrifying situation, here’s what to do:
1. Don’t Panic
While this may be difficult in the current situation, panicking will only cloud your thinking and increase your respiration, wasting valuable oxygen in the process. Take a look at what might be jamming the door. The most common cause of stuck walk-in freezer doors is broken heating strips. These strips are placed on the floor near the door to prevent ice buildup, but they can also slip under the door causing it to jam. If you can work around these, you may be able to free yourself.
2. Don’t Exercise
You may be tempted to do jumping jacks or another form of exercise to keep warm, but your increased respiration will only soak up the very limited amount of oxygen in your surroundings, and sweating will make you colder in the long run.
3. Create a Warm Shelter
It’s critical to keep your core body temperature as warm as possible to prevent hypothermia and shock. Try to rip or cut down the rubber flaps that line the doorway and wrap them around your body, head, and hands. Use cardboard boxes to create a tent that will help conserve your body heat. Make sure that every inch of your skin is covered to prevent frostbite.
4. Don’t Sit on the Floor
Avoid direct contact with any metal surface, especially the floor. Instead, break down cardboard boxes and stack them to sit on while you wait.
Thankfully, large walk-in freezer models do contain enough oxygen to support a person for an entire day. Remember that as long as you keep warm, still, and as relaxed as possible, someone will eventually come to rescue you!
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