Melbourn Health Training Services - Excellence in health and fitness education

EXCELLENCE
IN HEALTH AND FITNESS EDUCATION

Email: mhts

Phone: 95637222

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HYPOTHERMIA HYPOTHERMIA HYPOTHERMIA

Hypothermia - a fact you should be aware of this winter!

Hypothermia refers to abnormally low body temperature in warm-blooded animals; it is usually accompanied by a decrease in metabolism. Animals often use this mechanism which includes slowing of the pulse, blood pressure and breathing to survive in the cold.

However, in humans the condition needs treatment at body temperatures of 35C or below. And hypothermia becomes life threatening below body temperatures of 32.2 C. Hypothermia can be intentionally "induced" by physicians during certain procedures to decrease the body's need for oxygen.

The signs and symptoms of hypothermia depend upon the body temperature. The major initial sign is a decrease in mental function that leads to impaired ability to make decisions. The following are also signs:

Tiredness or lethargy
Changes in speech
Disorientation are typical, for example, the person will act as if they are "drunk".
The body gradually loses protective reflexes such as shivering which is an important heat- generating defense.
Other muscle functions also disappear so that the person cannot walk or stand. Eventually consciousness is lost.

Recognizing hypothermia can be difficult for the symptoms at first resemble other causes of change in mental and motor functions such as, diabetes, stroke, alcohol or drug use, etc. The most important thing is to think of the possibility and be prepared to treat.

Management

This involves slow heating of the body using blankets or other ways of increasing body warmth. Body temperature should increase by NO MORE than a couple of degrees per hour. What is done for the hypothermic individual depends on the seriousness of the problem.

What to do

Move the person out of the cold. Preventing additional heat loss is crucial. If you're unable to move the person out of the cold, shield the person from the cold and wind as best you can.
Remove wet clothing. If the person is wearing wet clothing, remove it and replace it with a dry covering. Cover the person's head. Try not to move the person too much. Cut away clothing if you need to.
Insulate the person's body from the cold ground. Lay the person faceup on a blanket or other warm surface.
Monitor breathing. A person with severe hypothermia may appear unconscious, with no apparent signs of a pulse or breathing. If the person's breathing has stopped or appears dangerously low or shallow, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately if you're trained.
Share body heat. To warm the person's body, remove your clothing and lie next to the person, making skin-to-skin contact. Then cover both bodies with a blanket.
Provide warm beverages. If the affected person is alert and is able to swallow, have the person drink a warm, nonalcoholic beverage to help warm the body.

What not to do

Don't apply direct heat. Don't use hot water, a heating pad or a heating lamp to warm the victim. Instead, apply warm compresses to the neck, chest wall and groin. Don't attempt to warm the arms and legs. Heat applied to the arms and legs forces cold blood back toward the heart, lungs and brain, causing the core body temperature to drop. This can be fatal.
Don't massage or rub the person. Handle people with hypothermia gently because they're at risk of cardiac arrest.
Don't provide alcoholic beverages. Alcohol lowers the body's ability to retain heat.

Staying healthy in cold weather
Before you or your children step out into cold air, remember the advice that follows with the simple acronym COLD:

C for cover. Wear a hat or other protective covering to prevent body heat from escaping from your head, face and neck. Cover your hands with mittens instead of gloves. Mittens are more effective than gloves are because mittens keep your fingers in closer contact with one another.
O for overexertion. Avoid activities that would cause you to sweat a lot. The combination of wet clothing and cold weather can give you chills.
L for layers. Wear loosefitting, layered, lightweight clothing. Outer clothing made of tightly woven, water-repellent material is best for wind protection. Wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers hold more body heat than cotton does.
D for dry. Stay as dry as possible. In the winter, pay special attention to places where snow can enter, such as in loose mittens or snow boots.