Hypothermia Treatment

On this page you will learn about hypothermia treatment and the causes of hypothermia.

Hypothermia occurs when heat escapes from the body faster than the body can produce it. Exposure to the cold for a prolonged period of time will use up the body's stored energy resulting in hypothermia or extremely low body temperature.

Be aware of weather conditions during outdoor activities, such as camping, fishing, hunting, boating and skiing.

• People outdoors for long periods of time including hikers, hunters and the homeless.
  
  
• Elderly people with inadequate clothing, heating or food.
  
  
• Babies sleeping in cold bedrooms.
  
  
• People drinking alcoholic beverages or taking drugs.

• Shivering
  
  
• Exhaustion
  
  
• Confusion and stumbling
  
  
• Slurred speech or memory loss
  
  
• Slow breathing rate
  
  
• Cold-pale skin
  
  
• Drowsiness
  
  
• Bright red or cold-pale skin and appearing listless (infants)

• If possible, take the victims temperature. If temperature is below 95 degrees, get medical help immediately.
  
  
• Move the victim to a warm room or shelter as soon as possible.
  
  
• Remove any wet clothing from the victim.
  
  
• Wrap the victims in blankets, coats or towels wrapping the center of the body first then the head, neck and groin.
  
  
• If necessary, gently hug the victim so your body heat will help to warm them.
  
  
• To increase the body temperature, if possible, have the victim drink warm non-alcoholic beverages.
  
  
• If the victim is unconscious and not breathing, administer CPR. Continue with the warming process (hypothermia patients sometimes appear to be dead, but administering CPR can be very successful.

• Do not use a warm bath on an elderly patient, this may cause the cold blood to reach the heart and brain too suddenly and cause a stroke or heart attack.
  
  
• Do not give the victim alcoholic beverages to drink.
  
  
• Do not aggressively rub or massage the victim in extreme cases of hypothermia because there may be a risk of a heart attack (be gentle, it is very important).