Moderate hypothermia occurs when a person’s core temperature drops to
between 92 and 89 degrees Fahrenheit (33 to 31 degrees Celsius.) At this point
shivering stops, mental confusion and apathy set in and the body’s muscles
become stiff. The person is now unable to speak properly. Speech will become
slow and vague, breathing will be shallow and slow and drowsiness and peculiar
behavior may occur.
Severe
Severe hypothermia sets in when the body’s core temperature drops below 89
degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius.) Symptoms are cold, bluish skin,
dilated pupils, weakness, lack of coordination, exhaustion, slurred speech and
the appearance of intoxication. The victim is most likely to be in denial and be
opposed to help from others. Gradually, the victim will drift into
unconsciousness. The breathing will be so shallow it can’t be determines, the
muscles will become rigid and the victim will appear lifeless.
Treatment of Hypothermia
Introduction
The treatment of hypothermia has been a controversial subject for centuries.
Then percent of US casualties in Korea
were related to the cold. Remember that hypothermia is often similar to a
variety of conditions, including death. Always act on the premise that the
victim is alive. Many patients who appeared cold, stiff and in a cyanotic state
with fixed pupils have been successfully resuscitated in the emergency room.
Prognosis of death should always be withheld until the patient’s body has been
brought to normal.
Hypothermia always causes severe reaction within the victim’s body because
it will always try to protect itself and retain any heat that remains. The most
important reaction is vasoconstriction. When this occurs, blood flow to the
body’s extremities stop because the body is trying to conserve heat that is
critical to the body’s core.
When the body’s core temperature reaches 87 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees
Celsius,) its heat production source is shivering. This helps blood circulate
to the extremities, which minimizes vascular collapse while the body is being
warmed slowly. By inducing vasodilation, patients can experience re-warming
shock.
It is important that the body’s core is re-warmed before the extremities to
prevent the patient from going into ventricular fibrillation. Gentle handling
is imperative and the patient should never be allowed to participate in even
the most moderate exercise, as this can cause cold blood to be pumped to the
heart.
If the body’s core temperature is below 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degree
Celsius,) the amount of circulating blood within the body is extremely minimal.
Basically speaking, the patient’s body is a metabolic ice-box and warming it
too quickly can be dangerous to the cardiovascular system.