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The
good news is that hypothermia is a very survivable medical condition.
If the body temperature is between 90° degrees F. and 96°
degrees F. a full recovery is almost completely assured.
From 80° degrees F. to 89.9° degrees F. a recovery is quite
possible with proper medical treatment but there may be some long-term
effects. Below 79.9° degrees F. recovery is possible but rare, and
medical complications are all but assured.
One of the most important rules of hypothermia, no one is dead
until they are warm and dead. When
dealing with a victim of hypothermia all efforts should be made to
sustain life until they have been properly warmed by a medical facility.
Treatment
for hypothermia is rather simple, but the proper treatment needs to be
administered during different phases of the medical condition.
During impending and mild hypothermia, getting into a dry and
warm environment are critical. Windy
conditions and wet clothes are enemies.
Warm, sweet, non-alcoholic fluids ingested slowly help, as does
high-energy food that puts fuel on the internal fires.
Bundling up in a blanket or sleeping bag also can help.
When
a person has moderate hypothermia you should get the person bundled up
and out of the cold, covering the neck and head as almost 50 percent of
heat loss happens here is critical. Sudden movement and physical activity should be avoided.
You can apply warm bottles of water, or warm rocks to the armpits
and groin area (comfortably warm when touched by a hand flat on the
stone and held in place). Fully
conscious victims can sip luke-warm sweetened, non-alcoholic fluids.
If their condition is clearly improving then more fluids and
warmth can be administered. Medical
attention should be sought out, even if a full field recovery is
achieved.
With
severe hypothermia the focus should change to maintaining body
temperature. Improper
warming can create a condition called metabolic acidosis that can cause
shock and heart failure. Warming
should only be preformed in these states by a medical facility. In severe cases surgery may be performed to bypass the
extremities and warm the core first through bypass. The critical thing when a person has severe hypothermia is to
be gentle with them. Sudden
or rough movements, forcing them to move or walk can pull very cold
blood from the extremities into the warmer core that can cause shock.
You need to be gentle and supportive.
Rubbing the skin, moving of the joints should be avoided; this
causes more harm than good. In severe hypothermia it is best for three people to get
under a pile of blankets or in a sleeping bag.
Skin on skin contact of the torso works best with a person on
each side of the victim. You
should ignore their pleas to be left alone or allowed to go to sleep,
but be gentle with them. You
should not administer fluids or make any other attempts to increase body
temperature. Maintaining
temperature and stemming further loss is the most important thing.
If
a person becomes unconscious from hypothermia you need to monitor their
breathing and pulse carefully. If you can detect a faint pulse do not do CPR to support
their heart. Only start
rescue breathing, chest compressions or full CPR if you cannot detect
any breathing, any pulse or both. Check
frequently to see if they start breathing on their own, even if it is
shallow, the same for a pulse. Administering
CPR to someone, even someone with a slight pulse can cause his or her
heart to stop. Remember,
make all efforts to keep them alive until help arrives, they have been
warmed and declared dead. People
have recovered in morgues from hypothermia and have had profoundly low
body temperatures and still recover.
Never give up hope with a hypothermia victim that does not have
any other serious medical complications (like severe injuries from a
fall or extreme altitude sickness).
Hypothermia
is such an insidious killer because it can hit with a sudden jolt (like
in a cold water immersion) and can kill in minutes.
Likewise as the core temperature cools gradually and judgment
fails, poor decisions by the victim can lead to more serious injury or
death. Proper education on
the identification and treatment of hypothermia is very critical.
Rescuers and hiking partners can mean well, but through their
actions can make the condition more serious.
To help prevent hypothermia you should follow some basic rules:
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Don't
drink alcoholic beverages, this only increases heat loss.
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Eat
carbohydrate loaded energy foods and drink plenty of warm fluids in
cold weather to keep the internal fires going.
Avoid heavy meals that cause blood to pool in the digestive
system.
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Urinate
frequently. Don't waste
body heat maintaining the temperature of a bladder full of urine.
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Wear
a hat; almost a full 50 percent of heat loss is through the head.
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Wear
proper layers for the prevailing conditions.
Pack for contingencies like rain if you’re hiking or an
accidental immersion if you are paddling.
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Remember
hypothermia can happen on a sunny day near 70° degrees F.
Don't deny the early symptoms.
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Always
experience the outdoors with a plan and leave instructions with a
trusted friend, relative, co-worker or ranger.
The
most important thing is don't allow yourself to become a victim.
Always be prepared for any contingency.
If your paddling wear the proper gear and clothing, dry suits,
wet suits as needed. If
your hiking dress in layers, stay out of the wind and keep dry.
Wear a hat and keep the extremities warm.
If you get the early signs of hypothermia do not ignore them. Proper action early can keep you out of the emergency room,
and enjoying the great outdoors.
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