How to Prevent and Treat Hypothermia in Emergency Situations

A medical illness called hypothermia happens when you’re exposed to cold temperatures for a long time, which can cause a dangerous drop in your body temperature. It’s more likely to happen during the winter months. You can also get hypothermia if you go on a spring hike or capsize on a summer sail.

The body temperature of a normal adult is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. In hypothermia conditions, the body temperature drops to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. In severe cases, the body temperature can be as low as 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

What Temperature Causes Hypothermia?

In cold temperatures, up to 90% of your heat escapes through your skin; the rest is exhaled into your lungs. Heat loss gets worse if you’re in the air or cold water. You lose heat 25 times faster if you’re in cold water than if you’re in the air.

What Can Be Do To Prevent Hypothermia In A Medical Emergency?

There are many things to perform when you seek someone who starts to be exposed to hypothermia. One of the fast and effective steps is to use a space blanket. These blankets help to retain body heat and provide insulation. They also prevent the person from losing more heat to the environment. They come in a box package which is very easy and convenient for everyone to keep with them. 

Symptoms or Signs Of Hypothermia

Adults suffering from hypothermia should be aware of the following warning signs such as:

When hypothermia progresses, shivering may cease. (Shivering indicates that your body’s heat control systems are still functioning.)

• Breathing slowly and shallowly
• Loss of memory and confusion
• Exhaustion or drowsiness
• Mumbled or slurred speech
• The inability to coordinate, fumbling hands, and stumbling steps
• Pulse that is weak and slow

There are a number of symptoms associated with infant hypothermia, including:

• Skin that is cold to the touch and bright red in color
• Energy levels are unusually low. 
• A rapid rate of breathing 
• The color of the skin is pale
• Uncertainty
• There is an excessive amount of peeing.

What Causes Hypothermia?

There are several possible causes of low body temperature that cause hypothermia, including:

Cold exposure

Hypothermia can occur when the body’s heat production and heat loss are out of balance over an extended period of time. It normally occurs when one has been exposed to the cold without sufficient clothing to keep them warm and dry. 

A much milder environment can also result in hypothermia based on age, body weight, body fat, overall health, and how long you have been in the cold.

Other causes

Hypothermia occurs when there is a combination of medical conditions like diabetes and thyroid disorders, some medications, emotional distress, or the use of drugs or alcohol.

How To Diagnose?

A person with hypothermia is usually diagnosed based on their physical signs along with the circumstances in which they became ill or were found. Blood tests can also be helpful in confirming the presence of hypothermia.

If, however, the symptoms are mild, such as when an older adult who is indoors is confused, has difficulties with coordination, and has difficulties speaking, a diagnosis may not be readily apparent.

What Are The Treatments of Hypothermia?

If you suspect someone may be suffering from hypothermia, seek immediate medical attention. Until medical assistance can be obtained, follow these first-aid guidelines.

Tips For First Aid

1. Be Gentle

• It is important to handle someone with hypothermia with gentleness.
• Do not rub or massage the person as excessive, violent, or jarring movements may lead to cardiac arrest.

2. Limit Cold Exposure

• Make sure that the person is not exposed to the cold. 
• Keep the individual in a horizontal position as much as possible and move them into a warm, dry location. 

3. Avoid Wet Clothing

• To prevent excessive movement, remove wet clothing from the person. 
• Cutaway clothing if necessary to eliminate excessive movement.

4. Provide Blankets To The Person

• The person should be covered with layers of dry blankets or coats to keep them warm. 
• The head should be covered so that only the face is exposed.

5. Check Breathing

• If someone appears unconscious and has no apparent pulse or breathing, begin CPR immediately if you are trained to do so. 
• If the person’s breathing has stopped or appears to be dangerously low, start CPR right away if you are an experienced CPR practitioner.

6. Offer Warm Fluid to Drink

It would be advisable to provide the affected person with a warm, sweet, non-alcoholic, non caffeinated beverage to aid in the process of warming their body if they are alert and able to swallow.

7. Make Use Of Warm, Dry Compresses

Warm compresses from a first-aid kit are available (plastic bags filled with fluid that warm up when squeezed); or makeshift compresses can be made with a plastic bottle filled with warm water or a gently warmed old towel.

Tips For Medical Aid

The following interventions may be used to raise the body temperature in patients with hypothermia, depending on the severity of their condition:

1. Rewarming Passively

It is sufficient to cover someone with a heated blanket and provide them with warm fluids to drink for someone suffering from mild hypothermia.

2. Rewarming Of The Blood

It is possible to draw blood, warm it, and then recirculate it within the body. Hemodialysis machines are usually used to filter blood in those with impaired kidney function. Heart bypass machines may also be needed to recirculate blood.

3. Provide Warm Fluids

A warmed solution of salt water can be injected into a vein in order to assist in warming the blood by preventing it from becoming too cold.

4. The Process Of Rewarming the Airways

By administering humidified oxygen via a mask or nasal tube, you have the ability to warm your respiratory tract and raise your body’s temperature.

5. Water Irrigation

With catheters, it is possible to administer a warm saltwater solution to certain parts of the body, including the pleura surrounding the lungs and the peritoneum surrounding the abdominal cavity.

Conclusion

Treating hypothermia is a life-or-death matter and must be done quickly. Early recognition and prompt treatment are essential to reduce the risk of serious complications and death. That’s why it is important to take proper usage of medical and first aid immediately to stop reactions caused by hypothermia. Your little effort can save someone’s life!