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First
Aid
Hypothermia
 Hypothermia occurs when the body
core temperature drops below 37°C. This happens when more heat
is lost than the body can produce through shivering and muscle
contractions.
Hypothermia is the result of prolonged exposure to cold
conditions, especially in damp, wet or snowy weather.
Inadequate clothing and headgear during winter, falling into
cold water and a car accident in rural areas are all examples
of situations which commonly cause hypothermia. Inactivity
rapidly leads to heat loss and this is worse if the person is
injured.
Hypothermia
has a gradual onset and the affected person might lose heat to
a critical level before becoming aware of the problem. Early
signs include shivering (shivering stops once body temperature
falls to below 32°C), listlessness, a cold, pale, puffy face,
slurred or incoherent speech and impaired judgement. This drop
in mental sharpness typically results in someone becoming
unaware of the gravity of the situation.
Later signs, indicating severe hypothermia, include an
overwhelming drowsiness and weakness, slow pulse and shallow
breathing, confusion, altered behaviour such as
aggressiveness, and stumbling when walking and unsteadiness
when standing.
Infants, the very lean and the elderly are at particular
risk. Elderly people may become hypothermic at temperatures as
mild as 10 to 15°C, particularly if they are malnourished,
have heart disease or an underactive thyroid, or if they take
certain medications or abuse alcohol.
Hypothermia can be fatal and therefore needs prompt
treatment. Severe hypothermia may be difficult to distinguish
from death because pulses become very difficult or impossible
to feel and breathing may be too shallow to notice.
Home treatment
- Move the person to a warmer area, shielded from the cold
and wind. Remove wet clothing.
- Wrap in dry blankets or insulating covers (don't use an
electric blanket) and cover the head. If outdoors, insulate
the person from the ground and lie next to him or her.
- If conscious, give warm fluids and high energy foods
such as chocolate, unless the person is vomiting. Don’t give
any alcohol or caffeinated drinks.
- Keep the person still as movement would draw blood away
from the vital organs.
- Do not apply direct heat, such as a hot bath or heating
pad. Instead, apply warm compresses to the neck, trunk, and
groin. Don’t attempt to heat the arms or legs, as this
causes cold blood to be forced back to the heart which will
drop the core temperature.
- Don’t massage of rub a person with severe hypothermia,
or jostle during transport, as this may cause cardiac
arrest.
- Get the person to hospital as soon as possible.
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