Hypothermia first aid

The signs of—and treatment for—hypothermia.

When your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, you enter hypothermia, a rapid cooling of your body.

Hypothermia can be life-threatening. You can die from it.

You are at increased risk when you are dehydrated.

Hypothermia is associated with coldness and is most common when temperatures fall below 50°F, but it can just as easily happen on a hot summer day.

Hypothermia can come on slowly, so keep an eye on each other.

How to avoid hypothermia

  • Layer in warm, dry clothing.
  • Wear mittens or gloves and a warm hat or tuque. In extreme cold, wear some kind of face protection.
  • Wear warm, dry socks and carry several spares. Swap out as needed.
  • As you get cold, put on more layers. Your rain gear counts as a final layer.
  • If you get wet, change into dry clothes. (Which means always carry spares.)
  • Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water, frequently sipping it throughout the day.
  • Stay out of the wind.
  • Remember: Standing around in a wet T-shirt and shorts on a mild, breezy summer day can lead to hypothermia just as easily as being underdressed on a winter freeze-out. In fact, the troop has never had a case of hypothermia on a winter camping trip. However, we have had two cases that happened at summer camp to boys who stayed in wet clothes in either a cool breeze or on a cold concrete floor for too long.
  • Keep an eye on each other. Pay attention to the well-being of the person on either side of you, and everyone has at least three people watching out for them (themselves and two others). Since confusion and reduced cognitive abilities are symptoms of many outdoors-related ailments and illnesses, you are never the best judge of how sick you might be.

Signs of hypothermia

  • Uncontrollable shivering—though at a certain point, as its temperature drops, your body will actually stop shivering. If you or someone was shivering with cold and then suddenly stops shivering without actually doing anything to get warmer, that is a sure sign of hypothermia.
  • The Umbles:
    • Grumbling (irritation or agitation)
    • Mumbling (slurred talking)
    • Stumbling (loss of coordination)
    • Fumbling (loss of fine motor control)
  • Slow, shallow breaths
  • Weak pulse
  • Confusion
  • Sleepiness or low energy
  • Fainting or loss of consciousness

How to treat hypothermia

Call 911 immediately. You do not mess with hypothermia.

  • Move them out of the cold. Indoors is ideal; in a tent is fine. If necessary, construct a quick shelter.
  • Keep them out of the wind, especially their head and neck.
  • Insulate them from the cold ground.
  • Remove any wet clothing and replace with warm, dry clothing, sleeping bags, and blankets.
  • Give them warm, sweet drinks.
  • Allow them to warm up—slowly. The key is to warm their core and its vital organs.

Do not

  • Put them in a hot bath or under a heat lamp.
  • Attempt to warm their arms and legs first. Their body needs to focus on its core.
  • Massage them (it can stress their heart and lungs).
  • Give them alcohol. The St. Bernard with a tiny cask of whiskey on his collar was an ill-informed 19th-century version of first aid. Alcohol actually slows the body’s warming process.
  • Apply warm, dry compresses or hot water bottles (wrapped in shirts or something so they won’t burn the skin) to the neck, chest, and groin.
  • If they lose consciousness and stop breathing, begin CPR.
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