Hypothermia is abnormally low body temperature. It is a dangerous condition caused when your body loses more heat than it can produce. It requires immediate medical attention.
Causes
Hypothermia is usually a result of exposure to very cold temperatures. It can also occur in less cold temperatures if there is a wind-chill, if your clothes are wet, or if you are in a position where you can’t move.
Risk Factors
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. People who are at increased risk for hypothermia include:
-
Elderly people who don’t have enough heat, food, or clothing
-
Adults under the influence of alcohol or drugs
-
Mentally ill people
-
People who are outdoors for long periods of time (e.g., hikers, hunters and the homeless)
-
Babies sleeping in cold rooms
Risk is also increased by certain medications and illnesses that make it harder for your body to stay warm.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hypothermia usually happen gradually. Over time, mental and physical abilities are lessened. The main symptoms of hypothermia are:
-
Shivering: this increases muscle activity and is your body’s built-in way to keep you warm
-
Confusion
-
Clumsiness
-
Memory loss
-
Slurred speech
-
Drowsiness
-
Irritability
-
Hallucinations
-
Slowed breathing
-
Cold, pale skin
-
The “umbles” – stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, and grumbles
When shivering stops, and confusion and drowsiness increase, the situation is very dangerous. Hypothermia is deadly because it causes the heartbeat to slow down, become irregular, and eventually stop.
Diagnosis
Normal body temperature is 98.6˚F. Hypothermia is diagnosed when body temperature reaches 95˚F or lower. Only a special rectal thermometer that reads low temperatures can confirm that someone has hypothermia.
A victim should never be considered dead until attempts to warm him/her have been made.
Treatment
It’s important to act quickly if you suspect that your or someone else has hypothermia:
-
Get to a warm, sheltered area
-
Remove wet clothing, if any
-
Use an electric blanket to warm the core of the body first – chest, neck, head, and groin
-
If no electric blanket is available, use skin-to-skin contact under loose blankets or towels
-
Give warm beverages to drink; do not give alcoholic beverages
-
Get medical attention as soon as possible
A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and appear to have no pulse. Medical attention is very important because in some cases, people can be saved even though they appear dead.
Prevention
Humans do not have a layer of hair or blubber to keep us warm like other mammals do. We are not built to be out in the cold for long periods of time.
-
If you are planning to spend time outside, take the following precautions:
-
Be aware of the weather
-
Wear the right clothing:
-
-
-
-
-
Go inside when you are shivering or if you are wet
-
Don’t drink alcohol
-
Eat well-balanced meals and stay hydrated
Also, take precautions with elderly people and babies who can be affected by hypothermia, even indoors, if their rooms aren’t kept warm enough.
RESOURCES:
CDC National Prevention Information Network
http://www.cdcnpin.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov
Hypothermia Prevention, Recognition and Treatment
http://www.hypothermia.org/
National Center for Infectious Diseases
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod
National Institutes of Health
http://www.niaid.nih.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canada Health Portal
Health Canada
http://chp-pcs.gc.ca/
Canadian Red Cross
http://www.redcross.ca/
References:
Beers, MH, Fletcher AJ, Jones TV, et al. The Merck Manual of Medical Information. Second Home Edition. Merck Research Laboratories: Whitehouse Station, NJ; 2003.
Hypothermia: A Cold Weather Hazard (AgePage series). National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.niapublications.org/engagepages/hypother.asp. Accessed September 19, 2005.
Hypothermia. Dynamed website. Available at http://dynamedical.com/dynamed.nsf?opendatabase. Accessed September 19, 2005.
Hypothermia. Mayo Clinic website. Available at http://www.mayoclinic.com. Accessed September 19, 2005.
Winter Weather FAQs. CDC: Department of Health and Human Services. Available at: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/faq.asp. Accessed September 19, 2005.
