Hypothermia: First aid

Under most conditions your body maintai= ns a healthy temperature. However, when exposed to cold temperatures or to a coo= l, damp environment for prolonged periods, your body's control mechanisms may = fail to keep your body temperature normal. When more heat is lost than your body= can generate, hypothermia can result.

Wet or damp clothing, an uncovered head= and inadequate clothing during cold, winter weather can increase your chances of hypothermia, as can falling into cold water.

Hypothermia is defined as an internal b= ody temperature less than 95 F. Signs and symptoms include:

Shivering
Slurred speech
Abnormally slow breathing
Cold, pale skin
Loss of coordination
Fatigue, lethargy or apathy

Symptoms usually develop slowly. Someon= e with hypothermia typically experiences gradual loss of mental acuity and physical ability, and so may be unaware of the need for emergency medical treatment.=

Older adults, infants, young children a= nd people who are very lean are at particular risk. Other people at higher risk for hypothermia than the general public include those whose judgment may be impaired by mental illness or Alzheimer's disease and people who are intoxicated, homeless or caught in cold weather because their vehicles have broken down. Other conditions that may predispose people to hypothermia are malnutrition, cardiovascular disease and an underactiv= e thyroid (hypothyroidism).

To care for someone with hypothermia:

Dial 911 or call for emergency medical assistance. While wai= ting for help to arrive, monitor the person's breathing. If breathing stops= or seems dangerously slow or shallow, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately.
Move the person out of the cold. If going indoors isn't possible, protect t= he person from the wind, cover his or her head, and insulate his or her b= ody from the cold ground.

Remove wet clothing. Replace wet things with a warm, dry coveri= ng.

Don't apply direct heat. Don't use hot water, a heating pad or a he= ating lamp to warm the victim. Instead, apply warm compresses to the neck, c= hest 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. <= o:p>

Don't give the person alcohol. Offer warm nonalcoholic drinks, unless the person is vomiting.

Don't massage or rub the person. Handle people with hypothermia gently, bec= ause they're at risk of cardiac arrest.