Elderly people with inadequate food, clothing, or heat; often these people sit alone for hours or days at a time in a cold apartment or home; improper nutrition also makes them more susceptible to the cold. Half of the elderly people who develop hypothermia die before, or soon after, being found. However, even young, seemingly strong people, are affected by hypothermia when exposed to the cold for long periods of time. To determine if the person is suffering from hypothermia, take his or her temperature with a thermometer.
If the person has symptoms of hypothermia and a temperature cannot be taken, call It is important that victims of hypothermia receive immediate medical attention. While waiting for medical attention, some methods of dealing with a hypothermia victim include the following:. Warm the center of the body first—the chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if it is available. When your body temperature drops, your heart, nervous system and other organs can't work normally.
Left untreated, hypothermia can lead to complete failure of your heart and respiratory system and eventually to death. Hypothermia is often caused by exposure to cold weather or immersion in cold water.
Primary treatments for hypothermia are methods to warm the body back to a normal temperature. Shivering is likely the first thing you'll notice as the temperature starts to drop because it's your body's automatic defense against cold temperature — an attempt to warm itself. Someone with hypothermia usually isn't aware of his or her condition because the symptoms often begin gradually. Also, the confused thinking associated with hypothermia prevents self-awareness. The confused thinking can also lead to risk-taking behavior.
While you wait for emergency help to arrive, gently move the person inside if possible. Jarring movements can trigger dangerous irregular heartbeats. Carefully remove his or her wet clothing, replacing it with warm, dry coats or blankets.
Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it produces it. The most common causes of hypothermia are exposure to cold-weather conditions or cold water. But prolonged exposure to any environment colder than your body can lead to hypothermia if you aren't dressed appropriately or can't control the conditions.
Alcohol and drug use. Alcohol may make your body feel warm inside, but it causes your blood vessels to expand, resulting in more rapid heat loss from the surface of your skin. The body's natural shivering response is diminished in people who've been drinking alcohol. In addition, the use of alcohol or recreational drugs can affect your judgment about the need to get inside or wear warm clothes in cold-weather conditions.
If a person is intoxicated and passes out in cold weather, he or she is likely to develop hypothermia. As winter drags on and temperatures drop way down, your risk of cold-related injury like frostbite can go way up. Sanj Kakar Mayo Clinic Orthopedic hand and wrist surgeon says frostbite is more common than many people think. Kakar explains. If the windchill drops below negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit, not unheard of in the northern half of the U. Kakar says. A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing.
In this case, handle the person gently, and get emergency assistance immediately. Frostbite is a type of injury caused by freezing. It leads to a loss of feeling and color in the areas it affects, usually extremities such as the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation removing the affected body part.
If you notice redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin—frostbite may be beginning. Any of the following signs may point to frostbite:. A person who has frostbite may not know they have it until someone else points it out because the frozen parts of their body are numb.
If you notice signs of frostbite on yourself or someone else, seek medical care. Check to see if the person is also showing signs of hypothermia. Hypothermia is a more serious condition and requires emergency medical care. If 1 a person shows signs of frostbite, but no signs of hypothermia and 2 immediate medical care is not available, do the following:. Frostbite should be checked by a health care provider.
And remember, Hypothermia is a medical emergency and immediate medical care is necessary. Taking a first aid or emergency resuscitation CPR course is a good way to prepare for health problems related to cold weather. Knowing what to do is an important part of protecting your health and the health of others. Being prepared is your best defense against having to deal with extremely cold weather.
By preparing your home and car ahead of winter storms or other winter emergencies, and by taking safety precautions during extremely cold weather, you can reduce your risk of developing health problems related to cold weather. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
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