Hypothermia: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment in first aid

By Cristiano Antonino On Apr 28, 2023

Hypothermia is a dangerous medical emergency involving low body heat. It is caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures

When exposed to a cold environment, the human body loses body heat faster than it produces it.

Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy, which leads to a lowering of your core body temperature.

Other factors and conditions can increase the risk of hypothermia, including extremes of age and specific health conditions, such as malnutrition.

The stages of hypothermia range from mild to severe hypothermia.

Even the mild stage is an emergency.

This is why it is essential to call the Emergency Number if you notice its signs.

While waiting for the emergency medical services team to arrive, it is essential to give first aid to increase the chances of survival.

First aid treatment involves getting the person to a warm, dry place and removing clothing.

The graphic representation below shows the symptoms and first aid advice for hypothermia:

Hypothermia can be differentiated into three stages: mild hypothermia, moderate hypothermia or severe hypothermia.

The symptoms and signs of hypothermia can be roughly grouped with the temperature ranges of the different phases:

Drop in body temperature below 35 °C for mild hypothermia, below 32 °C for moderate hypothermia and below 27 °C for severe hypothermia.
Exhaustion or drowsiness
Loss of consciousness
Numb hands and feet
Shortness of breath
Confusion, memory loss or slurred speech
Chills
Weak pulse
Hypertension, rapid heartbeat and constriction of blood vessels

First aid treatment depends on the degree of hypothermia, but the aim is to warm the person up.

Anyone with symptoms of hypothermia needs immediate medical attention.

The first responder can do the following while waiting for the emergency medical services team to arrive.

Take the hypothermic person indoors.
Remove wet clothing and dry the person
Warm the hypothermic person’s torso first, not hands and feet. Do not use direct heat, such as a heating lamp, to warm the person.
For someone with mild or moderate hypothermia, warm the person by wrapping them in blankets or wearing dry clothes.
Do not immerse the hypothermic person in hot water. Rapid heating can cause cardiac arrhythmias.
If hot water bags or a chemical heating pad are used, wrap them in a cloth. Do not apply them directly to the skin.
If someone has severe hypothermia and may be unconscious, start CPR immediately. Do not stop, even in a patient who appears dead, until the core body temperature is above 89.6 °F (30 °C to 32 °C) and still no signs of life.
If the hypothermic person is conscious, give him or her a hot drink. Avoid caffeine or alcohol because it increases the risk of hypothermia.
Once the body temperature rises, keep the hypothermic person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket.
When advanced medical care is available, health workers will continue warming efforts, including the administration of intravenous fluids and warm, moist oxygen. Severe hypothermia is treated medically with warm fluids and often saline solution injected into the veins.