Diagnose and Treat Hypothermia
Signs of the onset of hypothermia include feeling cold (in the hands and feet in particular), slurring speech, shivering and a loss of balance and coordination. The following steps can protect you from the serious situation of hypothermia.
Instructions
1. Understand that when serious hypothermia sets in, shivering stops because the victim can no longer get warm without help.
2. Watch for signs of the victim becoming irrational and angry, no longer being able to stand, becoming listless or appearing to be dead.
3. Find shelter and change into dry clothes to treat mild hypothermia.
4. Get into a sleeping bag and drink hot and sweet drinks, avoiding coffee and tea (caffeine can make dehydration worse).
5. Fill hot water bottles, wrap them in clothing and put them in the sleeping bag.
6. Begin rescue breathing to treat serious hypothermia, and then find shelter and do everything as outlined above. Rewarming may take 24 hours or more.
7. Zip together two or more sleeping bags and put warm, dry rescuers in the sleeping bag with the victim.
8. Evacuate the victim by helicopter if possible.
Tags: Diagnose Treat, Diagnose Treat Hypothermia, serious hypothermia, Treat Hypothermia