Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat more quickly than it is produced. You can develop hypothermia if you are exposed to cold temperatures or immersed in water such as a frozen lake or river. You can also develop hypothermia indoors if you are exposed to temperatures below 10 °C for a long time. The risk of hypothermia increases in conditions of exhaustion or dehydration. If left untreated, hypothermia can be life threatening.
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Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of Hypothermia
Step 1. Use a rectal, bladder, or mouth thermometer to check body temperature
Body temperature is one of the most accurate indicators for determining the severity of hypothermia.
- The body temperature of a person with mild hypothermia ranges from 32°C to 35°C.
- The body temperature of a person with moderate hypothermia ranges from 28°C to 32°C.
- The body temperature of a person with severe hypothermia drops to less than 28°C.
- Oftentimes, people providing care are aware when others are experiencing symptoms of hypothermia because this condition can cause confusion, inability to make informed decisions, and changes in behavior in sufferers. People with hypothermia may not realize that they have this condition and need to be checked to confirm their condition.
Step 2. Check for symptoms of mild hypothermia
These symptoms include:
- Shaky.
- Fatigue and lack of energy.
- Skin that feels cold or looks pale.
- Hyperventilation. These symptoms occur when people with hypothermia have difficulty breathing or the flow of breath is short or choked.
- The speech of the hypothermic patient may also be slurred. In addition, he may also be unable to do simple things like pick up objects or move around the room.
Step 3. Watch for symptoms of moderate hypothermia
These symptoms include:
- Confusion or drowsiness.
- Fatigue or lack of energy.
- Skin that feels cold or looks pale.
- Hyperventilation and shallow or slow breathing.
- A person with moderate hypothermia will usually stop shaking completely and speak incoherently or be unable to make sound decisions. He may try to undress even if it's cold. This is a sign that his condition is deteriorating and requires emergency medical attention.
Step 4. Seek immediate medical attention if any other symptoms occur
Even if the hypothermia is mild, you should still seek medical attention. Mild hypothermia can get worse if left untreated.
- Take the hypothermic person to the hospital if he is unconscious and his pulse is weak. This is a sign of severe hypothermia. A person who is severely hypothermic may appear as though he is dead. In fact, by immediately contacting the emergency services to conduct an examination, this condition can still be overcome. This situation threatens the life of the sufferer.
- Although not always successful, medical treatment can still be given to resuscitate people with severe hypothermia.
Step 5. Examine your baby's skin if you suspect he is hypothermic
A hypothermic baby may appear healthy, but his skin will feel cold. In addition, the baby also seems unusually calm, or does not want to eat.
If you suspect your baby is hypothermic, call 118 immediately to make sure he gets immediate medical attention
Part 2 of 3: Coping With Symptoms While Waiting For Medical Help
Step 1. Call 118
In all cases of hypothermia, you should call 118 for emergency medical attention. The first half hour after symptoms of hypothermia become apparent is the most critical phase in its management. Meanwhile, you can provide assistance to the patient while waiting for the ambulance or medical personnel to arrive.
Step 2. Keep the patient away from cold temperatures
Take it to room temperature inside. If you can't bring him indoors, protect him from gusts of wind by dressing him in other clothes, especially around the neck and head.
- Use layers of towels, blankets, or other clothing to protect the sufferer from the cold ground.
- Do not allow the hypothermic person to self-medicate as this will only waste energy and make the condition worse.
Step 3. Remove the wet clothes
Replace wet clothes with warm, dry clothes or blankets.
Step 4. Warm up the body gradually
Do not warm the patient's body too quickly with a heating lamp or hot water. Instead, apply warm and dry compresses to the midsection, neck, chest, and groin.
- Wrap a hot water bottle or heating bag with a towel before placing it on the patient, if you use one.
- Do not try to warm the patient's arms, hands, and feet. Warming or massaging these areas of the body can increase the pressure on his heart and lungs, and can cause other serious health problems.
- Do not try to warm the patient's body by rubbing your hands. This action will only irritate the skin and cause shock.
Step 5. Give the patient a warm and sweet non-alcoholic drink
Ask if he can swallow before you give him anything to drink or eat. Caffeine-free herbal teas or a warm lemon and honey solution are good choices. The sugar content in this drink can help increase the body's energy. You can also offer high-energy foods like chocolate.
Do not give alcohol because it can inhibit the body's process of re-warming. Do not give cigarettes or other tobacco products because they can interfere with blood circulation and hinder the body's process of rewarming
Step 6. Keep the patient's body warm and dry
After the patient's body temperature increases and some of the symptoms improve, continue to cover the body with a warm and dry towel or blanket until medical help arrives.
Step 7. Give CPR if the patient does not show signs of life
If the person is not breathing, coughing, or moving, and their heart rate is slowing, you may need to provide CPR. To properly perform CPR:
- Find the center of the patient's chest. Find between the ribs, the bone called the sternum.
- Place one palm in the middle of the patient's chest. Place the palm of the other hand on it and intertwine your fingers. Straighten your elbows and align your shoulders with your hands.
- Start pressing. Press the center of the patient's chest as hard as possible. Press at least 30 times quickly and hard. Apply pressure 100 times/minute. You can press to the beat of the famous song "Stayin' Alive" to maintain this pace of movement. Let the patient's chest bulge completely after each press.
- Tilt the patient's head and lift the chin. Press his nose and cover his mouth with yours. Blow air until his chest looks bloated. Blow two exhalations. Each exhalation should only take one second.
- CPR can be continued for a long time. There are reports that young people with severe hypothermia can be saved with one hour of CPR. If someone else is there, try to alternate CPR so you don't burn out.
Part 3 of 3: Seeking Medical Help
Step 1. Let rescue workers determine the severity of the patient
After the ambulance arrives, rescue workers will check the condition of the hypothermic patient.
A person who has mild to moderate hypothermia without other problems or injuries may not need to be taken to the hospital. The rescue worker may recommend home care with gradual warming of the body. However, people who have severe hypothermia may need to be hospitalized
Step 2. Allow rescue workers to provide CPR if necessary
If you have called an ambulance and the hypothermic person is unconscious or not responding, the rescue workers who arrive may provide CPR.
Step 3. Ask medical staff about cardiopulmonary bypass in cases of severe hypothermia
Once a hypothermic person arrives at the hospital, talk to your doctor about treatment options, especially in cases of severe hypothermia.
- Cardiopulmonary bypass is performed by removing blood from the patient's body to be warmed and reinserted. This action is also known as extra corporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO).
- This procedure can only be performed in large hospitals equipped with specialist emergency services or sections that routinely perform heart surgery.
- The chances of survival of a patient with severe hypothermia will be greater if he or she is immediately taken to a hospital like this even if he has to pass through a smaller hospital on his way. Actions other than cardiopulmonary bypass include the administration of warm intravenous fluids, warm irrigations to the chest, and/or warm hemodialysis.
