Hypothermia Tips, Info from BRMC


By George Nianiatus, senior writer
Communications Department


With winter’s inevitable return, so comes the concern of people suffering from hypothermia from frequently not being dressed properly for conditions.

Contrary to popular belief, hypothermia can strike as high as 55 degrees Fahrenheit when outside and even the low 60s when indoors.

Bradford Regional Medical Center’s John Radford, M.D., medical director of the Emergency Department, advises people to be aware of feeling chilled or having prolonged bouts of shivering when they can’t seem to get warm.

“Too often, in these cases, people are getting the early signs of hypothermia and they need to take action before it worsens and they require a visit to the Emergency Department,” Dr. Radford says.

Dressing in layers, whether outside or indoors, is paramount to keeping an optimum body temperature. Multiple layers trap air between them and help the body stay warm, Dr. Radford explains.

So who is at risk for hypothermia? Older adults can lose body heat fast - faster than when they were young. A big chill can turn into a dangerous problem before an older person knows what’s happening, the physician states.

For an older person, a body temperature colder than 95 degrees can cause many health problems such as heart attack, kidney problems, liver damage or worse, according to health experts.

“It’s important to understand the warning signs of hypothermia to prevent it or quickly address the early stages of it,” Dr. Radford says.

Early symptoms include cold, pale, or bluish gray skin; lack of concern; poor judgment; mild unsteadiness in balance or walking; slurred speech; numb hands and fingers, and difficulty performing tasks.

Late symptoms include muscles becoming stiff; slow pulse; breathing is shallow or slower; weakness or sleepiness; confusion; loss of consciousness; and shivering, which may stop if the body temperature drops below 90 degrees.

“Hypothermia is when the body’s core temperature falls below what’s safe. It is also easy to fall prey to this condition,” Dr. Radford says, noting it kill hikers, skiers and campers.

Additionally, it can affect those who are indoors, particularly the elderly, the ill and also young children, the physician states.

For the elderly living alone, Dr. Radford suggests family members and neighbors to regularly keep tabs. “Check on them to see that they are OK,” he recommends.

Some older adults, particularly those with dementia, likely require more frequent checkups by family members and neighbors as a precautionary measure. Regarding those who are outdoors for work, recreation or an unexpected emergency, Dr. Radford offers several tips:

— Dress warmly for weather conditions. “You never know when your car will slide on ice and you may have to walk to get help. Dress for cool or cold weather, not just for fashion,” he says;

— Keep dry. Water has five times the thermal conductivity of air so you get cold far more quickly if you’re wet. Wear waterproof layers and waterproof boots. If your clothes get wet, remove them as soon as possible;

— Wear wool. Unlike many fabrics, wood will keep you warm even when the fabric is wet. Wool socks, especially, will keep your feet warm even if your boots are wet;

— Wear layers. Multiple thin layers of clothing trap more warm air against your skin than a single thick layer;

— Wear hats and gloves. Your body loses a lot of heat from the top of the head and the extremities;

— Avoid wind chill. Even if the absolute temperature is not freezing, a breeze or wind can take body heat away far quicker than a calm day. This can lower your body temperature;

— Know the signs of hypothermia. Quick action can mean the difference between life and death;

— Get to safety. Remove the affected person immediately from the cold. If the clothing is wet, remove it gently from the skin because there could be frostbite or damaged skin that could be distressed from rough handling. Then get the person to a health facility as soon as possible. If necessary, call 911 for advice or guidance; and

— Do not heat the affected person quickly. Do not serve hot beverages, place the person in hot water, use a heating pad on high setting or put them in a sauna. Doing any of these can put a person in thermal shock. Instead, place the person in lukewarm water to slowly increase their core body temperature.

For more information about hypothermia, go to the Medline Plus section of Bradford Regional’s Web site at www.brmc.com.


In the photo, courtesy of BRMC, Mock hypothermia patient Emilee Morlock has a heating blanket that’s filled with warm air to raise her body temperature. Checking her vital signs is John Radford, M.D., the Emergency Department’s medical director at Bradford Regional Medical Center. Looking on is Theresa Potter, LPN, the Emergency Department’s triage liaison.

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