HYPOTHERMIA

 Basic information

description

• Hypothermia is an abnormally low body temperature (normal is around 98.6¡F [37¡C]). It can occur indoors due to lack of heat, outside in cold weather, or from being in water.
  • Primary hypothermia occurs in healthy persons and is caused by exposure to cold and/or damp conditions.
  • Secondary hypothermia is due to a medical illness that affects the body's heat-balancing mechanisms. It can develop in milder cold and damp conditions.

FREQUENT SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Symptoms can take several hours or even several days to develop.
• Poor muscle coordination.
• Cold hands, feet, and face; cold and pale skin.
• Shivering.
• Weakness; drowsiness.
• Mental confusion; disoriented; irritable attitude.
• Slurred speech.
• Slowed, shallow breathing and/or slow heart rate.
• Rigid muscles.
• Loss of consciousness.

causes

More heat is lost than the body can generate. This starts affecting many different functions of the body.

risk increases with

• Adults over 60 or infants.
• Mentally impaired.
• Poorly heated homes.
• Outdoor work or activities in cold weather.
• Certain medical conditions.
• Homeless persons.
• Excess alcohol use or drug abuse.
• Malnutrition.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• In cold weather, wear windproof clothing in many loose layers, including a scarf, hat, and mittens. If your clothes get wet, change clothes or dry them quickly.
• Avoid alcohol use if you are going out into the cold.
• If camping, walking, or hiking in a cold climate, carry emergency gear for use if stranded or injured. Travel with a partner.
• Be sure the home is heated adequately.
• Persons who are unable to care for themselves fully, such as the elderly, the mentally impaired, or the alcoholic, should be visited, supervised, or monitored during cold weather.

expected outcomes

The outcome is usually good if the patient is otherwise healthy and treatment is started quickly. Some children have been revived despite being in ice water for an hour or more.

possible complications

Many complications can occur depending on the patient's health and the length of the exposure to cold.

 diagnosis & treatment

general measures

• Urgent first aid medical care is needed. A person may appear dead, but resuscitation may still be successful. Arrange for transport to nearest emergency center.
• The following may be helpful in taking care of someone while waiting for emergency care:
  • Remove cold, wet clothing. Keep the person lying down and cover them with a warm blanket. Use your own body heat to aid warming if needed.
  • If the person is outdoors, move them inside. If unable to do so, put a blanket under and over them. Cover the head, but not the face.
  • Do not rub or massage their skin. Do not use heating pad or electric blanket. Do not put person in hot bath.
  • Warm fluids may be given if the patient is able to swallow. Don't give the person any alcohol to drink.
• In the hospital or emergency center, the process of rewarming will be started. The patient will be treated until the temperature returns to normal. Medical tests are often needed to check for any complications.

medications

Drugs will be provided for any complications.

activity

After treatment, normal activity should be resumed gradually.

diet

No special diet is needed after recovery.

 notify our office if

You or a family member has symptoms of hypothermia or you observe the symptoms in someone, seek emergency care.

Special Notes: