HYPOTHERMIAHYPOTHERMIA

Objectives and OutcomesObjectives and Outcomes Learn the meaning of hypothermia.Learn the meaning of hypothermia.

Understand what causes hypothermia.Understand what causes hypothermia.

Find out who is most susceptible to Find out who is most susceptible to hypothermia how to treat it.hypothermia how to treat it.

Discover how to stay warm properly.Discover how to stay warm properly.

HypothermiaHypothermia Hypothermia develops when the body Hypothermia develops when the body

temperature falls below 35ºC temperature falls below 35ºC (95ºF).(95ºF). Older children are most at risk after Older children are most at risk after over-exerting themselves in poor over-exerting themselves in poor weather conditions or after falling into weather conditions or after falling into cold water. Babies are also prone to cold water. Babies are also prone to hypothermia. Their temperature hypothermia. Their temperature regulation is not fully developed and if regulation is not fully developed and if they spend too long in a cold room, they they spend too long in a cold room, they can lose warmth rapidly.can lose warmth rapidly.

Common CausesCommon Causes Hypothermia occurs when more heat is Hypothermia occurs when more heat is

lost than the body can generate. lost than the body can generate. It is usually caused by extended exposure It is usually caused by extended exposure

to the cold.to the cold. Common causes include:Common causes include:

Being outside without enough protective Being outside without enough protective clothing in winter. clothing in winter.

Falling overboard from a boat into cold water. Falling overboard from a boat into cold water. Wearing wet clothing in windy or cold weather. Wearing wet clothing in windy or cold weather. Heavy exertion, not drinking enough fluids, or Heavy exertion, not drinking enough fluids, or

not eating enough in cold weather.not eating enough in cold weather.

Signs and SymptomsSigns and Symptoms Feel sleepy Feel sleepy ConfusedConfused WeakWeak Shiver a lotShiver a lot Muscle stiffnessMuscle stiffness Become uncoordinatedBecome uncoordinated Your fingers and toes may turn blue.Your fingers and toes may turn blue. After awhile you may start to breathe After awhile you may start to breathe

slower and you may finally pass out. slower and you may finally pass out.

GENERAL CAREGENERAL CARE

Care:Care: Have someone take you to the Have someone take you to the hospital. While waiting for help to hospital. While waiting for help to come, cover yourself with a blanket come, cover yourself with a blanket or take a warm (not hot) bath. If you or take a warm (not hot) bath. If you can swallow, drink warm liquids like can swallow, drink warm liquids like tea or broth (clear soup). tea or broth (clear soup).

First Aid CareFirst Aid Care If any symptoms of hypothermia are present, especially If any symptoms of hypothermia are present, especially

confusion or changes in mental status, immediately call confusion or changes in mental status, immediately call 911. 911.

If the person is unconscious, check airway, breathing, If the person is unconscious, check airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing or and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing or CPR. If the victim is breathing less than 6 breaths per CPR. If the victim is breathing less than 6 breaths per minute, begin rescue breathing. minute, begin rescue breathing.

Take the person inside to room temperature and cover Take the person inside to room temperature and cover him or her with warm blankets. If going indoors is not him or her with warm blankets. If going indoors is not possible, get the person out of the wind and use a possible, get the person out of the wind and use a blanket to provide insulation from the cold ground. blanket to provide insulation from the cold ground. Cover the person's head and neck to help retain body Cover the person's head and neck to help retain body heat. heat.

Once inside, remove any wet or constricting clothes Once inside, remove any wet or constricting clothes and replace them with dry clothing. and replace them with dry clothing.

Warm the person. If necessary, use your own body heat Warm the person. If necessary, use your own body heat to aid the warming. Apply warm compresses to the to aid the warming. Apply warm compresses to the neck, chest wall, and groin. If the person is alert and neck, chest wall, and groin. If the person is alert and can easily swallow, give warm, sweetened, nonalcoholic can easily swallow, give warm, sweetened, nonalcoholic fluids to aid the warming. fluids to aid the warming.

Stay with the person until medical help arrives.Stay with the person until medical help arrives.

Do’s and Don’tsDo’s and Don’ts

To keep your body temperature from To keep your body temperature from dropping again, wear warm clothing dropping again, wear warm clothing when out in cold weather. Dress in when out in cold weather. Dress in layers of windproof and waterproof layers of windproof and waterproof clothing and try to stay dry. Try not to clothing and try to stay dry. Try not to go out in really cold weather. Do not go out in really cold weather. Do not drink alcohol or smoke. It can lower drink alcohol or smoke. It can lower your body temperature even more. your body temperature even more.

PreventionPrevention Wear proper clothing in cold temperatures to Wear proper clothing in cold temperatures to

protect your body. These include:protect your body. These include: Mittens (not gloves) Mittens (not gloves) Wind-proof, water-resistant, many-layered Wind-proof, water-resistant, many-layered

clothing clothing Two pairs of socks (cotton next to skin, then wool) Two pairs of socks (cotton next to skin, then wool) Scarf and hat that cover the ears (to avoid major Scarf and hat that cover the ears (to avoid major

heat loss through the top of your head)heat loss through the top of your head) Avoid:Avoid:

Extremely cold temperature, especially with high winds Extremely cold temperature, especially with high winds Wet clothesWet clothes Alcohol and SmokingAlcohol and Smoking Extreme exertion in cold weather Extreme exertion in cold weather

Prevent with these 3 rules!Prevent with these 3 rules! Layer it on:Layer it on: Several layers of loose Several layers of loose

clothes are better than one heavy layer, clothes are better than one heavy layer, because more warm air is trapped around because more warm air is trapped around your body.your body.

Keep it dry:Keep it dry: Your body loses heat 25 Your body loses heat 25 times faster when you are wet. So dry times faster when you are wet. So dry clothes and waterproof boots are a must.clothes and waterproof boots are a must.

Top it off:Top it off: Wearing a hat and a scarf Wearing a hat and a scarf conserves heat and enables the body to conserves heat and enables the body to send more warm blood to the hands and send more warm blood to the hands and feet.feet.

Did you know?Did you know? Hands are kept warmer in mittens than Hands are kept warmer in mittens than

gloves.gloves.

If your hands and feet are cold put on a If your hands and feet are cold put on a hat! Why?...hat! Why?... 40% of the bodies heat is lost through your 40% of the bodies heat is lost through your

head!head!

Wool and tightly knit acrylic fibers are the Wool and tightly knit acrylic fibers are the best fabric for trapping in heat.best fabric for trapping in heat.

Nutrition and HypothermiaNutrition and Hypothermia

Proper nutrition is essential to Proper nutrition is essential to keeping your body strong and keeping your body strong and healthy.healthy.

The better your nutrition the better The better your nutrition the better chances you have when it comes to chances you have when it comes to keeping your body warm!keeping your body warm! Avoid: Smoking, Alcohol, Empty Avoid: Smoking, Alcohol, Empty

Calories!Calories!

FrostbiteFrostbite

Frostbite is a cold injury, in which the damage Frostbite is a cold injury, in which the damage to the body is caused by tissue freezing. The to the body is caused by tissue freezing. The temperature must be below freezing for this temperature must be below freezing for this to occur.to occur.

Frostbite can occur on anybody part but most Frostbite can occur on anybody part but most likely on:likely on: The Face: Especially ears, nose, cheeks, and chin.The Face: Especially ears, nose, cheeks, and chin. The Hands.The Hands. The Feet.The Feet.

FrostbiteFrostbite

FrostbiteFrostbite is characterized by white, is characterized by white, waxy skin that feels numb and hard. waxy skin that feels numb and hard. It requires immediate emergency It requires immediate emergency medical attention. medical attention.

Common Cold Weather Common Cold Weather MythsMyths Alcohol keeps you warm.Alcohol keeps you warm.

The best solution to warmer hands is The best solution to warmer hands is thicker gloves.thicker gloves.

A snowstorm is more dangerous than a A snowstorm is more dangerous than a rainstorm.rainstorm.

Three pairs of socks are better than one Three pairs of socks are better than one or two.or two.

Rubbing snow on a frostbitten area will Rubbing snow on a frostbitten area will re-warm the area by improving re-warm the area by improving circulation.circulation.

Simulation to very mild Simulation to very mild hypothermiahypothermia

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/first_aidhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/health/first_aid_action/flash/quiz_hypo_child//index.s_action/flash/quiz_hypo_child//index.shtmlhtml