Hypothermia – Recognition and Treatment

What are the signs of Hypothermia?

With the frigid temperatures here, it is vitally important to keep warm. Hypothermia is a very real danger that you have to be aware of. Hypothermia is when your body temperature drops below 95 degrees.

Hypothermia, if not properly treated can lead to confusion and eventually death. I found a great article on how to recognize and treat hypothermia.

You don't have to be in a raging blizzard to suffer from hypothermia. Many people have succumbed to hyperthermia in temperatures as mild as 50 degrees. If a person gets wet and loses body heat faster than it can be produced, then they can suffer from hypothermia.

Some of the beginning signs are mumbling, stumbling and confusion. If the person if shivering, that is a good sign because it means that their body is still trying to regulate the temperature. As hypothermia progresses, shivering stops and skin turns blue.

It is important to raise the core temperature of the afflicted person. To do this, it is important that the body temperature is gradually raised from the core on out. For example, if the hands and feet are quickly warmed, this could cause the colder blood to rush to the heart, causing heart failure. Giving the person a warm drink would be more effective. Even better is if you could share someone else's body heat with the person. This can be done by sharing a sleeping bag with the afflicted person.

Be prepared for the possibility of hypothermia by dressing in layers, making sure that the layers closest to the skin wick away moisture. Always have with you materials that you can use to start a fire, in the event you get wet and show the beginning signs of losing body heat. Hypothermia is a very dangerous condition but with proper prevention, recognition and treatment of it, a serious outcome can be prevented.

Here is the link to the hypothermia article: http://www.beattheend.com/hypothermia-prevention-hypothermia-prevent/

What have you done to prevent and treat hypothermia? Have you had some close calls? Share your stories with us!

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