Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a medical emergency. It occurs when a person's body loses heat faster than the metabolism can generate it.

Normal body temperature is 37˚ C. If it falls to or below 35˚ C, the patient is hypothermic.

Hypothermia’s primary cause is prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, especially where water is a compounding factor. Lengthy exposures will eventually use up your body's stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature and, potentially, death.

Symptoms include:

• Shivering
• Slurred speech or mumbling
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Weak pulse
• Clumsiness or lack of coordination
• Drowsiness or deficient energy
• Confusion or memory loss
• Loss of consciousness

The treatment for a person with hypothermia is an urgent requirement. A few guidelines are as follows:

• Immediately move the patient out of the area of exposure and into a warm, sheltered location.
• Remove wet clothes and immediately wrap the patient in warm clothing, blankets and items that help protect from the wind. Many First-Aid kits contain a shiny foil-like space blanket.
• If available, consider the controlled use of heat pads and, if safe, electric blankets.
• Skin‐to‐skin contact with another person is an excellent method of increasing body temperature in a hypothermic patient.
• Warm (not hot) liquids are helpful but do not offer alcohol - it can rapidly worsen the patient's condition.
• Seek professional emergency medical assistance as soon as possible after the patient is removed from the exposure situation and can effectively begin warming.