Chapter 14 · Extreme cold and snow
Hypothermia
Hypothermia occurs when body temperature drops below 95 °F (35 °C). The CDC says that if a person's temperature is below 95 °F, they need medical attention immediately. The victim almost never realizes it: confusion is part of the picture. Check on one another.
Warning signs in adults (CDC): shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness. In babies: bright red, cold skin, very low energy.
| Stage | Body temperature | Signs |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | 95 to 89.6 °F (35 to 32 °C) | Shivers hard, stays alert, but movements become clumsy. Has trouble with fine tasks like zipping a zipper. |
| Moderate | 89.6 to 82.4 °F (32 to 28 °C) | Shivering lessens or stops. Confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, strange behavior (sometimes removes clothing). |
| Severe | Below 82.4 °F (28 °C) | Does not shiver, does not move, unconscious. Breathing and pulse very weak; may appear dead. |
You do not need a thermometer: go by the signs. When someone stops shivering without having warmed up, it is a sign of getting worse, not better.
Treatment
- Call 911 if there is confusion, drowsiness, if they have stopped shivering, or if they are unconscious.
- Get them out of the cold: into a warm room, a heated car, or a shelter. If you cannot, protect them from the wind and insulate them from the ground (mat, branches, backpacks).
- Remove wet clothing and replace it with dry clothing or blankets. In moderate or severe hypothermia, cut the clothing off instead of forcing the person to move.
- Warm the center of the body first: chest, neck, head, and groin. Use an electric blanket if available, or skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets. Hot water bottles wrapped in cloth, placed at the armpits, chest, and groin, also work.
- Warm, sweet drinks only if they are conscious and can swallow. Never alcohol. Never give liquids to an unconscious person.
- Once their temperature rises, keep them dry and wrapped in a blanket, including head and neck.
- If they are not breathing or have no pulse, start CPR even if they appear dead, and keep warming them during CPR (chapter 7).
