Hypothermia

The first aider must distinguish between mild and severe hypothermia. Severe hypothermia is a medical emergency demanding intensive care, mild hypothermia can be successfully treated on site.

Mild hypothermia

Most people working in the outdoors with hypothermic conditions are exhausted, So give warm sweet drinks and high energy foods to those who are cold, exhausted, or hypothermic. The body will spontaneously metabolise them and it will make a contribution to re-warming.

Wrap a casualty in blankets and clothing, and warm them gradually in a sheltered environment with other persons to generate heat. Hats and gloves are vital as much heat is lost from the head and hands.

All casualties outdoors should be insulated and sheltered from the elements.

Severe hypothermia

Death often occurs as the casualty is rescued – the result of not handling with care and flooding the core with cold blood full of metabolic waste.

• Normal core temperature
• Shivering an looks/feels cold
• Personality change, becoming introverted & withdrawn
• Shivering stops - Lowered consciousness
• Drowsy
• Limbs stiffen
• Progressing to unconsciousness
• Fixed dilated pupils
• Pulse weak and irregular
• Death

Casualty may appear dead but may not be. Warm and dead is the test!

Treatment:

Handle with extreme care.

Protect from further cooling but do not attempt to actively re-warm. It must be a very slow process.

Assist ventilation gently with oxygen

If AED available - connect it

Thankfully, severe hypothermia is rare where individuals never work alone, and always have shelter and communications available to them.