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Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a loss of core temperature. It is easier to avoid by generating warmth (increasing metabolism through calorie intake, or exercise) rather than treating it once it is a problem.
Symptoms
- Symptoms include stumbling, mumbling, grumbling, ("umbles") lethargy, shivering, and pale skin. Hypothermia is often very hard to recognize, especially with a gradual onset, consciously look for it in yourself, group members, and passers-by. A hypothermic person will likely not broadcast their condition if they feel the need to not hold the group back.
Treatment
- Treatment for mild hypothermia includes getting out of the wind and precipitation, removal of cold clothes, prevention against convective heat loss(pads and groundsheets) and evaporative, using a "Hypo-Wrap", of dry clothes, sleeping bags, hot water bottles, surrounded in a vapour barrier with a dry inside. Fluids and exercise are helpful.
- Severe conditions (shivering has ceased, may be unconcious) need to be treated and moved gently in order to avoid trauma to the heart, patient may require CPR or rescue breathing. Treatment is similar, but unlike a patient who is shivering or cohesive, this patient has lost the ability to generate or maintain any warmth, and treatment is mainly to stabilize for evacuation.
