When exposed to cold temperatures,
especially with a high wind chill factor and
high humidity, or to a cool, 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, defined as an internal body
temperature less than 95 F (35 C), can
result. Wet or inadequate clothing, falling into cold
water and even not covering your head
during cold weather can increase your
chances of hypothermia. Signs and symptoms of hypothermia
include: Shivering Slurred speech Abnormally slow breathing Cold, pale skin Loss of coordination Fatigue, lethargy or apathy Confusion or memory loss Bright red, cold skin (infants) Signs and symptoms usually develop slowly.
People with hypothermia typically
experience gradual loss of mental acuity
and physical ability, so they may be unaware
that they need emergency medical
treatment. Older adults, infants, young children and
people who are very lean are at particular
risk. Other people at higher risk of
hypothermia 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 underactive
thyroid (hypothyroidism). To care for someone with hypothermia: Call for emergency medical assistance.
While waiting 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 the person
from the wind, cover the head, and insulate
the individual from the cold ground. Remove wet clothing. Replace wet things
with a warm, dry covering. Don’t apply direct heat. Don’t use hot water,
a heating pad or a heating lamp to warm the
person. Instead, apply warm compresses to
the center of the body — head, neck, chest
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. 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 because
their skin may be frostbitten, and rubbing
frostbitten tissue can cause severe
damage.
especially with a high wind chill factor and
high humidity, or to a cool, 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, defined as an internal body
temperature less than 95 F (35 C), can
result. Wet or inadequate clothing, falling into cold
water and even not covering your head
during cold weather can increase your
chances of hypothermia. Signs and symptoms of hypothermia
include: Shivering Slurred speech Abnormally slow breathing Cold, pale skin Loss of coordination Fatigue, lethargy or apathy Confusion or memory loss Bright red, cold skin (infants) Signs and symptoms usually develop slowly.
People with hypothermia typically
experience gradual loss of mental acuity
and physical ability, so they may be unaware
that they need emergency medical
treatment. Older adults, infants, young children and
people who are very lean are at particular
risk. Other people at higher risk of
hypothermia 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 underactive
thyroid (hypothyroidism). To care for someone with hypothermia: Call for emergency medical assistance.
While waiting 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 the person
from the wind, cover the head, and insulate
the individual from the cold ground. Remove wet clothing. Replace wet things
with a warm, dry covering. Don’t apply direct heat. Don’t use hot water,
a heating pad or a heating lamp to warm the
person. Instead, apply warm compresses to
the center of the body — head, neck, chest
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. 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 because
their skin may be frostbitten, and rubbing
frostbitten tissue can cause severe
damage.
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