Debunking Myths: What Should You Do If Someone Has Hypothermia?
When your core temperature drops below normal, with heat loss exceeding heat gain, hypothermia can result. It may be caused by winter weather, cold water immersion, or wind, rain and hail in summer. Recognizing the early stages of hypothermia is important, as is prevention, but what should you do if hypothermia occurs? Here we explores the truth behind common myths about treating hypothermia outdoors.
Just walk it off
We lists exercise as one of the three main physiological means for producing heat, but we definitely don’t suggest asking moderately to severely hypothermic patients to run a mile.
Exercise is ok for people with mild hypothermia, or people who are just cold, as long as you insulate them to capture the heat produced and give them a warm drink and food. On the other hand, exercise is dangerous for people who are moderately to severely hypothermic. It can trigger sudden cardiovascular collapse. Instead of telling them to drop and give you twenty to get their blood flowing, these folks need to be wrapped in dry insulation—a hypothermia wrap, which is designed to keep body heat in—and handled gently.
Alcohol will warm you up from the inside
Back away from the flask! While taking a sip of something strong may create a warm sensation on the way down, it can actually make you lose heat faster. When you drink alcohol, the peripheral blood vessels near your skin dilate, which means more blood and heat flows to these vessels (hence the flushed cheeks and warm sensation).
At the same time, this process is taking blood and heat away from your core, causing your core to lose heat faster—ultimately hindering the hypothermia recovery process. (Alcohol also impairs our judgment, and to stay warm in the cold we need to do smart things!) A better option? Try a hot, sweet, caloric drink like hot cocoa.
Don’t feed the patient
On the contrary! If you suspect that your outdoors companion is becoming hypothermic, take action in implementing treatments listed in Wilderness Basic Life Support and feeding them simple foods, like candy bars, in small and frequent doses. Then, give them a hearty warm meal! Food is the fuel for metabolism—a main player in heat production.
Carbohydrate-rich beverages, and foods may be helpful in both rewarming and meeting the increased caloric requirement for shivering.
Warm the patient up quickly
“Be persistent: warming takes time.” Increasing a person’s core temperature doesn’t happen quickly, so it’s important not to try to rush the process. Act quickly and diligently, but give the patient plenty of time to warm up. In some cases, people who have been described as “frozen to death” have even been successfully warmed and recovered from hypothermia over time.
You should attempt rewarming in the field with items such as large electric heat pads or blankets, and warm water bottles. The areas of the human body with the highest potential for conductive heat loss include the axillae, chest, and back.
Conclusion
The single, most important aspect of hypothermia treatment is adequate prevention through preparation. Hypothermia is the “killer of the unprepared,” but even experienced and prepared outdoors, people have succumbed to this ailment. You should be aware of weather conditions and bring appropriate gear. Have a contingency plan in case a bad situation happens.
