| Definition: |
An abnormal and dangerous condition in which the temperature of the body is below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Centigrade).
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| Alternative Names: |
Low body temperature; Cold exposure
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| Considerations: |
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The people most likely to experience hypothermia are:
- Those who are very old, very young, or chronically ill.
- Those who have heart or circulation problems.
- Those who are malnourished, overly tired, or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
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| Causes: |
Hypothermia usually is caused by extended exposure to cold. Hypothermia results when more heat is lost than the body can generate.
Common causes include:
- Falling overboard from a boat into cold water.
- Being outside without enough covering in winter.
- Wearing wet clothing for an extended period of time in windy or very cold weather.
- Heavy exertion, or poor fluid or food intake in cold weather, even in above-freezing temperatures.
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| Symptoms: |
The onset of symptoms is usually slow. There is likely to be a gradual loss of mental acuity and physical ability. The person experiencing hypothermia, in fact, may be unaware that he or she is in a state that requires emergency medical treatment.
Symptoms include:
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| First Aid: |
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1. If the victim is conscious and you think they may have hypothermia, get the victim out of the cold. Handle the victim gently. People with hypothermia are at risk for cardiac arrest.
2. If the victim is unconscious, check their airway, breathing and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing, CPR, or bleeding control. If the victim is breathing at a rate of less than 6 breaths per minute, start rescue breathing.
3. If going indoors is not possible, get the victim out of the wind, cover their head, and insulate them from the cold ground. If at all possible, get the victim inside to an area at room temperature and cover them with warm blankets.
4. Once inside, take off any wet or constricting clothes and replace them with dry clothing.
5. Warm the victim. Cover the head and neck. If necessary, use your own body heat to aid the warming. Apply warm compresses to the neck, chest wall, and groin. If the victim is alert and can easily swallow, give warm, sweetened fluids (nonalcoholic) to aid in the warming process.
6. Stay with the victim until medical help arrives.
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| Do Not: |
- DO NOT assume that someone found lying still in the cold is dead.
- DO NOT use your own comfort to decide if an area is warm enough, since people respond differently to cold.
- DO NOT attempt to warm a severely hypothermic person without medical advice.
- DO NOT use direct heat (such as hot water, a heating pad, or a heat lamp) to warm the victim.
- DO NOT give the victim alcohol!
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| Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if: |
- the victim is suffering from hypothermia. Meanwhile, give first aid immediately.
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| Prevention: |
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Factors that can contribute to hypothermia include extreme cold, wet clothes, high winds "wind chill", and poor circulation, which can be caused by tight clothing or boots, cramped positions, fatigue, certain medication, smoking, alcohol use, or diseases that affect the blood vessels, such as diabetes, poor fluid intake (fluid imbalance), and inadequate food.
Wear suitable clothing in cold temperatures and protect exposed, sensitive areas. In cold weather, wear mittens (not gloves); wind-proof, water-resistant, many-layered clothing; two pairs of socks (cotton next to skin, then wool); and a scarf and a hat that cover the ears (to avoid substantial heat loss through the scalp).
Before anticipated prolonged exposure to cold, don't drink alcohol or smoke (both interfere with blood circulation), and get adequate food and rest.
If caught in a severe snowstorm, find shelter early.
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