Hypothermia; More than just warming up a person

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Bruce Hill, Jr.
  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency Public Affairs

Editors note:The author is a prior enlisted emergency medical technician.The article is apporved by the 377th Medical Group, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

With the sparkling lights, the smell of fresh pumpkin pie and delightful charm of good ole Saint Nick behind us, we are still in the middle of a cold winter weather season that can become more than just Jack Frost nipping at our noses.

The concern is hypothermia. It is dangerous, and it can sneak up on you even in the mild desert southwest.

The term hypo in hypothermia means low. 

Hypothermia is a medical condition where the patient's body temperature falls below normal. Though mild hypothermia can be reversed, serious hypothermia can cause death. Getting wet or caught in a sudden stiff wind can increase susceptibility. Alcohol consumption, chronic illness, and certain medications may also decrease body temperature and increase the chances of getting hypothermia.Though we may know it’s good to bundle up when it is cold, it’s good to understand hypothermia and how to treat it.

What is hypothermia?

Hypothermia is the gradual lowering of internal body temperature below 95 degrees. Causes may include wind chill, inadequate clothing, fatigue, or poor health. A method of detection for a hypothermic condition can be feeling the victim’s back or chest with an ungloved hand. Should the individual be cold to the touch, moderate hypothermia may exist. A mild case could be present even when he or she feels warm. 

Increased hypothermia can be determined by violent shivering caused by the body trying to generate heat. The lack of shivering is a sign that the body has lost this function. The brain begins to lose oxygen causing the bodily functions to slow, at which point hypothermia will become more critically evident.

The lack of oxygen to the brain usually results in acts of confusion, often leaving the victim unaware of his or her behavior. The victim might even appear dead due to minimal body function, expelling few breaths and presenting an occasional heartbeat.

Treatment

Treatment should be provided very gently to the hypothermic person. Prevent further heat loss by carefully moving the person to a warmer environment, not to warm the patient too quickly; 70-80 degree temperatures are recommended.

Next, gently remove wet clothing. Do not rub body parts to create warming. Ice crystals in the tissue can cause permanent injury. Do not give alcohol due to its depressant characteristics and do not give tobacco products as they can interfere with blood circulation. Instead, monitor the patient and make certain proper medical authorities are notified to provide specialized treatment.

In cases of the no pulse and non-breathing victim, cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) would be required and CPR should be started immediately.

Be aware every winter that severe hypothermia can lead to serious problems. Hypothermia can even lead to shock, in which case immediate emergency medical treatment is recommended.  

For questions concerning hypothermia and how to treat it, contact the 377th MDG at 846-3200.