victims often refuse to acknowledge 

 their symptoms. 



Severe hypothermia results as the 

 body temperature drops below 90 F. 

 Shunting of blood continues. Lips and 

 fingertips turn blue from poor oxygen- 

 ation of the tissues near the body 



surface. Decreased circulation also 

 results in a buildup of waste products 

 in the muscles of the arms and legs 

 until shivering stops and is replaced 

 by muscular rigidity. The pulse and 

 respiration begin to slow as the 

 body core cools. 



Below a core temperature of 90 F, 

 the vital organs begin to cool. When the 

 brain cools, cell metabolism slows, 

 resulting in impaired brain function. The 

 level of consciousness deteriorates from 

 confusion and despair to disinterest, 

 incoherence and eventual unconscious- 

 ness. Below 82 F, signs of life are 

 difficult to detect, and the victim may be 

 mistaken for dead. The pupils of the 

 eyes will be dilated and fixed. The pulse 

 may be undetectable. Occasional gasps 

 of respiration as low as four or five per 

 minute may be the only clue that the 

 individaul is still alive. It is important, 

 however, to assume that the victim can 

 be revived and to begin treatment. 



Treatment 



Obviously, the cure for hypothermia 

 is to rewarm the patient. But there are 

 right and wrong ways to do this. It's 

 important to stop further heat loss 

 and to gradually rewarm the victim's 

 body core. 



If the victim is mildly hypothermic 

 — conscious, talking clearly and 

 sensibly, and shivering vigorously — 

 then: 



1 . Get the person out of the cold 

 water or air to a dry, sheltered, prefer- 

 ably heated area. 



2. Replace wet clothing with dry 

 layers of clothes, blankets or sleeping 

 bags, being sure to cover the head 

 and neck. 



3. Apply hot packs, water bottles, 

 heating pads or other sources of warm, 

 dry heat to the groin, head, neck and 

 sides of the body. Or place the victim 

 in a tub of warm water. Be sure to 

 submerge only the individual's body 

 core; arms and legs should not be in the 

 water. The water should feel pleasantly 

 warm to the wrist; it should not be hot. 

 Do not place hypothermia victims in the 

 shower where extremities will also be 

 rewarmed. 



4. Supply warm, nonalcoholic 

 fluids, particularly fruit juices or water. 

 Avoid caffeine drinks such as coffee, 

 tea and cocoa. 



A victim of advanced hypothermia 

 must be treated as a medical emergency. 

 If the person is getting stiff and is either 

 unconscious or showing signs of slurred 



Hypothermia First Aid 



Symptoms 



98.6' F 



Treatment 



NORMAL 





97° F 





ALL CASES 



• Move victim to dry shelter 

 and warmth 



• Handle gently 



• Remove wet clothes 



• Insulate body, head and neck 



• Apply mild heat to body core 



• Rewarm gradually 



Mild Hypothermia 



• Shivering, cold hands and feet 



• Still alert and able to help self 



• Numbness, clumsiness, 

 pain from cold 





36° C 

 93° F 





Mild Hypothermia 



• Prevent further heat loss 

 and let body rewarm 



• Give warm, sweet drinks, 

 no alcohol or caffeine 



T7" " A* X"" 



• Keep victim warm tor 

 several hours 



Moderate Hypothermia 

 • Shivering may decrease 

 or stop 





34° C 

 90° F 





Moderate Hypothermia 



• Apply gentle heat to stabilize 

 temperature 



• Offer drink only after victim 

 is fully conscious 



• Have victim checked by 

 doctor if possible 



Severe Hypothermia 



• Shivering decreases or stops 



• Loss of mental clarity, 

 abnormal behavior 



• Victim appears drunk, 

 may resist help 



• Semiconscious or unconscious 



• Muscular rigidity increases 





32° C 

 82° F 





Severe Hypothermia 



• Avoid jarring the victim; 

 handle gently 



• Ignore pleas to be left alone 



• Lay victim on back; 

 keep immobile 



• Apply mild heat 



Critical Hypothermia 



• Unconscious, 

 may appear dead 



• Little or no apparent 

 breathing or pulse f 



• Skin cold, [ I 

 may be bluish-gray \ ' 



• Eyes may be dilated \ 



• Very rigid 



8 





28° C 





Critical Hypothermia 



• Assume patient is revivable; 

 don't give up 



• Look, listen and feel for 



\ breathing and pulse for two 

 | ] minutes. If there is any at all, 

 J do not give CPR. If none, 

 / begin CPR. 



• Medical help is imperative 



•e 



ody Temperatu 



18 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 



1996 



