Transcript Hypothermia is . . . . . . a

What is Hypothermia?
The failure to maintain the vital
organs at normal temperature
Hypothermia is . . .
. . . a “Fuzzy Thinking” Problem
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It comes on gradually – may not even notice
Patient is not motivated to their own rescue
Affects ability to make good decisions
Group may go into hypothermia together
Hypothermia
robs you of your
ability to help
yourself
Hypothermia: What do you see?
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Mild : Shivering, “Umbles”
fumbles – inability to do complex tasks
grumbles – confusion, apathy, sluggish thinking
mumbles – slurred speech
stumbles – altered gait
Moderate: worsening of “umbles” and
uncontrollable, violent shivering
Severe: shivering stops, increasing muscular
rigidity, stupor progressing to coma,  HR and
Resp
Useful hint – differentiator between mild
and severe is ability to swallow
Mild Hypothermia – what do you do?
Mild Hypothermia –
Patient still trying to warm up internally
Stop the heat loss –
Get them out of cold and out of wet clothes
Cover head and neck
Simple warm, sweet fluid to “stoke the fire”
- if they can swallow
Encourage movement, if possible
Use chemical heaters, etc to warm them up
Severe Hypothermia – what do you do?
Severe Hypothermia –
Patient is unconscious or semi-conscious; lost
ability to rewarm
Danger – high probability of ventricular
fibrillation if handled roughly
Not much you can do –
stabilize core temperature – heat packs,
blankets, wrap in tarp, get quickly into hands
of EMS
Hypothermia Don’ts:
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Don’t lose time - call EMS ASAP
but don’t rush to treatment
Don’t handle roughly
Don’t use fast rewarming
Don’t do body to body re-warming - rescuer
risk
Don’t rush to do CPR – HR and Resp may be
very slow; normal for cold; search for ~ 3
mins; But if needed, do it!
A person is not dead until they are warm and dead
AED
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Avoid using AED  Cold tissue does
not conduct electricity well
PRECAUTIONS DURING TRANSPORT
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Even minor bumps or jolts can
precipitate ventricular fibrillation. Do
the best you can. Few of these patients
survive
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If the victim is breathing, oxygen
administration at a generous flow rate
prior to transport may reduce the risk
of fibrillation.