How to survive hypothermia

							How to survive hypothermia

If you’re cold, wet and exhausted, you can lose the ability to maintain a normal
temperature. Your peripheral functions start with the brain, heart and lungs, keep them
warm enough to survive. Here's what to look for and how to treat it.

SYMPTOMS

Shivering stops; pupils dilate; pulse Person "feels cold"; shivers intensely; skin goes
pale; lack of co-ordination, but can still walk and talk. Speech slurs; irrational
behaviour; can't stop shivering at all; becomes irritable; impaired judgment;
stumbles, falls; muscles go rigid becomes very weak and slow; breathing stops;
pulse stops; full loss of consciousness; person appears dead (the “Metabolic lcebox"
stage].

TREATMENTS

MILD

Move to warm, dry location. Take off wet clothing and put in dry ones or blankets,
insulate from ground. Give warm sugar drink. Early stage: place in lukewarm bath or
warm with body heat. Later stages: apply moderate heat to neck, groin and check pulse
and breathing.

SEVERE

Check pulse and breathing for at least 30 seconds (may be slow and faint). Apply CPR
and if definitely no pulse, get person to hospital for professional, slow re-warming via
warm, moist oxygen and drips.

HYPOTHERMIA TIPS

1 . Don't panic No one is cold and dead, only warm and dead. “Dead” hypothermic
patients often revive hours later after appropriate care.

2 . Last rounds Never give alcohol, caffeine or nicotine. Don't warm the person very
rapidly. This can cause ”cold shock" as blood rushes from the core to the arms and
legs.

3. Off the hone Don't rub the skin - this wlll encourage blood flow from the core to the
skin, making their core colder.