HYPOTHERMIA

DEFFINITION

• HYPOTHERMIA IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY THAT OCCURS
• WHEN YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE PASSES BELOW 95 F

CAUSES

• Cold exposure
• Certain medical conditions such as diabetes and thyroid conditions can cause it
• medications, severe trauma, or using drugs or alcohol all increase the risk of hypothermia.

SYMPTOMS

• The body starts to slow as the temperature drops
• shivering, affects thinking and reasoning
• Initial hunger and nausea,confusion, lethargy, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, and coma.
• In some cases, the patient will paradoxically remove their clothes just before this occurs.
• Often the affected person will lie down, fall asleep, and die.

FIRST AID PROCEDURES

• Wet clothing should be removed and replaced with a warm, dry covering including head
• should be removed from the cold environment and placed in a warm shelter away from the wind.
• apply warm compresses to the chest, neck, and groin. Hot water should not be used.
• warm blankets and body to body contact may be needed
• The patient's breathing should be monitored, and if it becomes dangerously slow or stops, CPR should be initiated.

ADVANCED CARE NEEDED

• When call 911 they will bring the patient to a warm environment
• CPR

FACTS

Untitled Slide

Untitled Slide

Untitled Slide