Hypothermia

From WildernessWiki.org

ADVISORY:
These recommendations are not meant to be used as a substitute for the advice of a personal physician or trained medical professional. Whenever possible, seek individualized, professional advice and care.

Hypothermia is a serious medical condition caused by rapid body temperature fluctuation, such as falling into freezing cold water. It can be lethal unless a victim receives immediate care.

1 Cause and Effects
2 Treatment
3 Prevention
4 Paradoxical undressing
5 See also
6 Sources

Cause and Effects

When hypothermia occurs, the victim's ability to keep their body warm has failed. It should be noted that air temperature is not always below freezing when hypothermia occurs. Often, a victim enters cold water or other liquid unexpectedly, or experiences other cold environments. Hypothermia can cause stiffness, cramps, difficulty or loss of breathing, irregular or slow pulse, disorientation and shivering. If left untreated, it can become lethal.

Treatment

Victims of hypothermia should not be warmed rapidly. This can cause a wildly irregular pulse and heart failure. Instead, cold/wet clothing should be removed, and the victim covered with blankets. Move the victim to a warm location, and give them a slightly warm drink. Apply warm (not hot!) compresses or objects to the victim. If needed, give rescue breaths or CPR. If other heat sources are completely unavailable, your body heat is necessary. the victim should be covered in blankets or placed in a sleeping bag, and joined by one or more other people. they should huddle close together, to transfer as much heat as possible. Barriers should be removed between victim and others, so as to transfer heat as quickly as possible. While this may cause some people to be uncomfortable, remember that the victim's life is at stake!

Prevention

Those who are taking part in activities outdoors should always be prepared for the worst. Especially in the cooler months, one should always dress as warm as possible and carry a dry set of clothes. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and staying warm in the first place can prevent many nasty maladies.

Paradoxical undressing

Many hypothermal deaths are associated with a phenomenon known as paradoxical undressing. This typically occurs during moderate to severe hypothermia as the victim becomes disoriented, confused, and combative. The hypothermic victim may begin discarding the clothing they have been wearing, which in turn increases the rate of temperature loss.