Hypothermia could be a potentially fatal emergency. It develops at temperatures above freezing but also below. There are two types of hypothermia: the mild form and the severe form. In the former case, the patient tends to pronounce words in a confused manner, has memory lapses and chills. Many people also experience a cold feeling in their hands and full. In the second case, the chills disappear, the muscles may be numb and stiff, and the skin turns a bluish color. The victim appears to be dead.
What to do?
- In case of hypothermia place the patient in horizontal position and immediately call for an ambulance.
- Meanwhile. remove the victim in the cold environment, looking for a heat source. Isolate thermally the victim and replace wet clothes with dry ones. One of the basic things to do is to cover the victim’s head, in that 50 percent of body heat loss occurs through the head.
If you are in a distant place and the arrival of the ambulance is delayed, in case of mild hypothermia, soak the patient’s body in hot water or make boiling compresses, without burning the victim. Another method is to lie next to the hypothermic person in a sleeping bag. In severe or profound hypothermia, it is necessary to control vital parameters and provide as much heat as possible. Heating in an isolated location is very difficult, so it is necessary to transport the victim by helicopter.
Source: Mediserve‘s Pocket Guide to First Aid.
