Effects of Cold (Hypothermia)
Effects of Cold (Hypothermia) is the cooling of core body temperature to extremely low levels below 37°C.
Hypothermia occurs when your body's control mechanisms fail to maintain a normal body temperature. Signs and symptoms that may develop include gradual loss of mental and physical abilities. Severe hypothermia can lead to death.
It is mostly accidental during cold winter months when temperatures are below 5°C, especially in drunk individuals who have fallen unconscious out in the cold, amongst homeless people and elderly individuals.
Effects of Cold (Hypothermia) patients appear cold and pale, body temperatures are very low. They are stiff, unconscious, breathing is shallow and slow. The heart rate is also slow.
Hypothermia has been a military problem ever since Hannibal lost nearly half of his troops while crossing the Pyrenees Alps in 218 B.C. and has continued to plague military campaigns through both world wars and the Korean War.
signs and symptoms of Hypothermia may include:
- Slurred speech
- Abnormally slow rate of breathing
- Cold, pale skin
- Fatigue, lethargy or apathy
Hypothermia is divided into two types: primary and secondary.
Primary hypothermia typically involves exposure to cold air or immersion in cold water. The cold air variety usually takes at least several hours to develop, but immersion hypothermia will occur within about an hour of entering the water, since water draws heat away from the body much faster than air does.
In secondary hypothermia, the body's heat-balancing mechanisms can fail for any number of reasons, including strokes, diabetes, malnutrition, bacterial infection, thyroid disease, spinal cord injuries (which prevent the brain from receiving crucial temperature-related information from other parts of the body), and the use of medications and other substances that affect the brain or spinal cord.
Management
Effects of Cold (Hypothermia) is an emergency and treatment should be instituted at once.
1. Move the patient to an enclosed area protected from the atmosphere.
2. Remove cold wet clothing and shoes.
3. Cover the patients with blankets with hot water bottles placed along the sides of the body.
4. Consult a doctor immediately
Prevention Tips
- Prepare well before embarking on any cold weather activities.
- Make sure you are conditioned physically with adequate nutrition and rest.
- Travel with a partner.
- Wear multiple layers of clothing, loosely fitted. Cover the head, wrists, neck, hands, and feet and try to remain dry.
- In an emergency, drink cold water rather than ice or snow.
- Be wary of wind and wet weather because they increase the rate of heat loss.
- Keep the homes of the elderly heated to at least 70°F (21.1°C), especially the sleeping area
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