Hypothermia is no laughing matter. Most people who live in colder climates have experienced feeling cold down to their cores.
Most of these folks can even share stories of being so cold that they lose feeling in their fingers or toes.
While letting your extremities stay cold for a long time can lead to frostbite, allowing your entire body to get too cold for too long can lead to the dangerous condition of hypothermia. Understanding these conditions and recognizing the signs of hypothermia is a critical factor in staying safe during the coldest time of the year.
What is Hypothermia?
Hypothermia is technically defined as having a core body temperature of fewer than 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). When the body’s temperature drops even a few degrees, it can have dangerous and even deadly effects.
When a person’s body is exposed to cold weather or freezing water, they are at risk of hypothermia. Most of the risk factors for losing this amount of body temperature involve not dressing appropriately for the weather or falling into partially frozen bodies of water.
Of course, the young and the elderly are also susceptible to hypothermia due to their bodies lacking the ability to regular their body temperatures effectively. People who are on drugs, medications, and alcohol or suffer from ailments like Parkinson’s disease or diabetes can also be at higher risk of complications in the cold.
Signs of Hypothermia
Luckily, the signs of hypothermia are often easy to spot. When treated early, the negative consequences of hypothermia can be mitigated or even avoided completely.
Common signs include
- Shivering, although shivering will actually stop as things get more severe
- Shallow or slow breathing
- Slurred speech
- Fumbling hands, loss of coordination, stumbling steps
- Slow, weak pulse
- Drowsiness or exhaustion
- Confusion and memory loss
- Loss of consciousness
- Lack of a strong pulse or respiration
On top of the common symptoms of this condition, it’s also worth noting the five stages of hypothermia:
- 1. Mild: shivering, nearly normal mental status
- 2. Moderate: shivering stops, impaired consciousness
- 3. Severe: unconscious, vital signs are difficult to detect
- 4. Apparent death: vital signs are unrecognizable
- 5. Death: irreversible at this point
First Aid and Treatments
Rendering the right kind of aid can save someone’s life. When the symptoms are severe enough, providing the wrong kind of care may prove catastrophic. In general, rewarming a person showing signs of hypothermia is the goal. This task should be done carefully.
If the person has on wet clothes, it is better to remove those clothes than let them remain at risk from the wetness. The person should be wrapped in warm blankets. If possible, place hot water bottles or heating pads around the person’s chest, armpits, and groin. If these heating elements are not available, you can use your own body heat to help warm the person. You do not want to place the person in hot water as this can cause other kinds of damage.
If the person suffering from hypothermic symptoms is still conscious, give them a warm drink like tea, coffee, or soap.
Be Safe Out There
Just because the weather gets cold doesn’t mean you can enjoy being outdoors. To avoid the risk of hypothermia, make sure you dress appropriately for the weather and avoid areas that could lead to falling into the water. If you keep an eye on everyone and recognize the signs of hypothermia, you can avoid major issues early. When it comes to cold weather conditions, being prepared is what saves lives.
