Hypothermia is a condition that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce. You may get hypothermia from being exposed to cold weather or immersed in freezing water, such as a frozen lake or river. Hypothermia can also occur indoors, if the body remains at a temperature below 10 ° C for a long time. The risk increases when you are tired or dehydrated. If left untreated, hypothermia can have fatal consequences.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of Hypothermia
Step 1. Use a thermometer to measure the person's oral, rectal, or bladder temperature
Body temperature is one of the most accurate indicators for determining the severity of the situation.
- A body temperature between 32 and 35 ° C indicates that the person has mild hypothermia.
- A body temperature between 28 and 32 ° C indicates that the person has moderate hypothermia.
- A body temperature below 28 ° C indicates that the person has severe hypothermia.
- In many cases, a healthcare professional may be able to recognize if a person has symptoms of hypothermia, as it can cause mental confusion, low self and environmental awareness, and irrational behavior. The subject may not realize that they are suffering from hypothermia and need to be examined to confirm their condition.
Step 2. Check for symptoms of mild hypothermia
They include:
- Incessant chills;
- Fatigue and very low energy;
- Cold or pale skin
- Hyperventilation: difficulty in breathing or rapid, shallow breathing;
- In some cases the person may also have difficulty expressing themselves or fail to perform simple actions, such as grabbing an object or moving around the room.
Step 3. Look for symptoms related to moderate hypothermia
They include:
- Mental confusion or sleepiness
- Fatigue and very low energy;
- Cold or pale skin
- Hyperventilation and slow or shallow breathing
- Generally, in people with moderate hypothermia, the chills disappear completely, while difficulties in expressing or thinking rationally remain. The person may also try to take off their clothes while feeling very cold. These signs indicate that your condition is worsening, which requires immediate medical attention.
Step 4. Call emergency services right away if you recognize any of these symptoms
Even if the person has mild hypothermia, it is important to seek medical attention right away. If she is not treated promptly, her condition could worsen.
- Take the person to the hospital if they are unconscious and have a slow heart rate. These signs indicate that she has severe hypothermia. In the worst cases, the person may even appear dead, so it is very important to call the emergency health services immediately to determine if in fact they are in a state of hypothermia and can still be treated. It is a potentially fatal condition.
- Medical tools can be successful in resuscitating a person with severe hypothermia, but success is not guaranteed.
Step 5. If you suspect your baby is suffering from hypothermia, check his skin promptly
Babies may appear to be apparently healthy, but have cold skin and unusually calm or refuse milk.
If you suspect that a small child is at risk for hypothermia, call emergency health services immediately to ensure prompt medical attention
Part 2 of 3: Keeping Your Symptoms Under Control While Waiting for the Doctor
Step 1. Call 118
Whatever the degree of severity of hypothermia, the first thing to do is still call 118 to request immediate medical attention. The half hour following the onset of symptoms is the most critical phase to manage. You will need to monitor the person while you wait for the ambulance or a healthcare professional to arrive.
Step 2. Move the person to warm
Take her to an indoor place where the temperature is adequate. If moving indoors is impossible, protect it from the wind by covering it with other clothing, especially around the neck and head.
- Use towels, blankets, or any other clothing available to protect the person even from freezing ground.
- Do not allow her to cover or heal herself, she would risk using the little energy available with the possibility of aggravating her condition.
Step 3. Remove any wet clothing
Replace them with warm, dry clothes or blankets.
Step 4. Warm up your core gradually
Avoid heating it too quickly, for example by using a heating lamp or immersing it in hot water. It is best to use warm, dry compresses on the midsection, neck, chest and groin.
- If you intend to use bags or bottles filled with hot water, wrap them in a towel before applying them to the indicated areas.
- Do not try to warm your arms, hands and legs. Rewarming or massaging the limbs could put undue stress on the heart or lungs, which could lead to other serious ailments.
- Do not try to warm the person by rubbing their body with your hands. It will only irritate the skin and subject the body to further shock.
Step 5. Try to get her to sip a warm, sweet, non-alcoholic drink
Ask her if she can swallow before suggesting something to drink or eat. A herbal tea or plain hot water with the addition of honey and lemon juice are good options. The sugar contained in drinks can be used to give the body some energy. You can also offer him a food with a high energy power, such as chocolate.
Avoid alcoholic beverages so as not to slow down the heating process. Cigarettes and all tobacco products should also be avoided, as they can interfere with blood circulation and increase the time it takes to warm up
Step 6. Keep the person warm and dry
Even after her body temperature has risen and some symptoms have subsided, keep her wrapped in warm, dry blankets until the doctor arrives.
Step 7. Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers if the person shows no signs of life
If he is not breathing, coughing, not moving, and has a slow heart rate, you may need to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers. To practice them correctly:
- Locate the center of the chest, then find the flat, elongated bone located between the ribs, i.e. the breastbone.
- Place the base of the palm of one hand in the center of the person's chest. Place your other hand over the first and interlace your fingers. Keep your arms straight and align your shoulders with your hands.
- Start applying downward pressure. Push your hands against your chest rhythmically and repeatedly, without applying excessive pressure. Repeat at least 30 times. You will need to keep a pace of at least 100 compressions per minute, but no more than 120. To help you maintain an adequate and effective compression rate for a consistent period of time, you can refer to the song "Stayin 'Alive" by the Bee Gees. Allow your chest to fully rise between each squeeze.
- Gently push the person's head back, then lift their chest. Plug her nose with your fingers and place your mouth over hers. Breathe out steadily until you see his chest rise. You must perform two breaths, each lasting one second.
- The cycle of 30 compressions and 2 insufflations should be continued for a long time or until help arrives. There have been cases where young patients with severe hypothermia have survived for an hour thanks to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If there is a third person present, try to take over so as not to run out of strength.
Part 3 of 3: Getting Medical Care
Step 1. Let a competent person determine the severity of the hypothermic victim's condition
Upon arrival of the ambulance, health professionals will assess the patient's state of health.
In general, a person with mild hypothermia and no other ailments or injuries will not need to be transported to the hospital. Paramedics may indicate what other treatments to perform at home, including a gradual warm-up. In case of more severe hypothermia, it will be necessary to take the person to the hospital immediately
Step 2. Let the paramedics perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers if necessary
If you have called the ambulance because the person is unconscious or apathetic, it is likely that they need to be resuscitated.
Step 3. If you have severe hypothermia, ask your doctor if a cardiopulmonary bypass will help
Once you reach the hospital, ask what options are available, especially if the person is in a serious condition.
- Cardiopulmonary bypass surgery consists of diverting blood out of the body to warm it up and then reinserting it into the body. This extracorporeal circulation technique is also known as "extracorporeal membrane oxygenation" (or ECMO, from the English ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation).
- This technique is only available in hospitals with specialized emergency services or units that regularly perform cardiac surgery.
- In many cases, the person with severe hypothermia is more likely to survive if they are transported directly to one of these hospitals, even if it means bypassing a small, nearest hospital facility. Alternatives to cardiopulmonary bypass include, for example, the administration of heated fluids intravenously.
