is caused by prolonged exposures to very cold temperatures. When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced. Lengthy exposures will eventually use up your body’s stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature.
Hypothermia Treatment
1. CALL 911 IF YOU SUSPECT HYPOTHERMIA
Symptoms of hypothermia in adults and children include:
- Confusion, memory loss, or slurred speech
- Drop in body temperature below 95 Farenheit
- Exhaustion or drowsiness
- Loss of consciousness
- Numb hands or feet
- Shallow breathing
- Shivering
In infants, symptoms include:
- Bright red, cold skin
- Very low energy level
2. Restore Warmth Slowly
- Get the person indoors.
- Remove wet clothing and dry the person off, if needed.
- Warm the person’s trunk first, not hands and feet. Warming extremities first can cause shock.
- Warm the person by wrapping him or her in blankets or putting dry clothing on the person.
- Do not immerse the person in warm water. Rapid warming can cause heart arrhythmia.
- If using hot water bottles or chemical hot packs, wrap them in cloth; don’t apply them directly to the skin.
3. Begin CPR, if Necessary, While Warming Person
If the person is not breathing, start CPR immediately. Hypothermia causes respiratory rates to plunge, and a pulse might be difficult to detect. https://www.webmd.com/
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