During Extreme Cold: Beware of Hypothermia!
Hypothermia is a dangerous condition that can quickly arise during cold weather. How can you spot the signs, and how can you protect yourself?
The first important thing to know about hypothermia is that it can happen in relatively warm temperatures, as warm as 60 degrees if one is not dressed properly. It can also happen on a warm day in the spring or early summer when air temperatures are mild, but water temperatures are very cold.
Not everyone is at equal risk of hypothermia. Older people tend to have greater problems with regulating their internal body temperature, leading to a quicker onset of hypothermia. Medications such as anti-depressants and certain pain relievers can also interfere with how the body regulates temperature, increasing a person’s risk of both heat illness and hypothermia.
Medically, hypothermia is defined as the core body temperature dropping to below 96 degrees. The body has ways of dealing with cold to try and keep the essential organs functioning, but beyond this point problems will quickly begin to arise.
The most noticeable symptoms of hypothermia revolve around diminished brain function, including drowsiness, slurred speech, confusion and clumsiness. Slow breathing and a slow pulse will also occur in an advanced case of hypothermia in addition to uncontrollable shivering. Eventually hypothermia can lead to loss of consciousness, coma and death without medical intervention.
If you encounter someone who appears to be suffering from symptoms of hypothermia, the most important step is to call emergency services – hypothermia is a medical emergency which needs to be assessed and addressed by medical professionals. Move the victim indoors and cover them with blankets to gradually increase their core body temperature while waiting for help to arrive. While moving the victim inside, be sure to move them gently as any sudden bumps can cause abnormal heart rhythms. If they are unconscious, make sure they have a pulse and begin doing chest compressions (AKA hands-only CPR) if a pulse is not present.
Preventing hypothermia is obviously a good idea, and there are several ways to reduce the risk. The best way is to stay indoors with windows closed on cold days, especially when conditions are windy as wind chill can speed up how quickly your body sheds heat. Cover all parts of your body if you have to go outdoors in temperatures below 40 degrees, and try to stay as dry as possible as evaporative cooling can lead to not only hypothermia but also frostbite.
Winter weather can be dangerous, but preparation is the best way to stay safe in any adverse weather. Hopefully, this advice will help keep you safe and warm this winter.
Source: NWS, CDC
Story Image: A frozen birch tree on 13 February 2012. (credit: 5snake5 via Wikimedia Commons)
