First Aid for
Hypothermia

First aid for hypothermia is relatively simple, but action does need to be taken quickly. Also called exposure sickness, it occurs when cold, wet or windy weather chills the body faster than it can produce heat.

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Symptoms

• Uncontrollable shivering.
• Slurred speech.
• Exposed skin turning blue. Cold, pale skin.
• Foggy thinking.
• Your mind wanders.
• Pulse and respiration slows. Abnormally slow breathing.
• Fatigue, apathy and lethargy. Eventually unconsciousness.

First Aid Treatment

• Move victim out of the cold. Cover their head and insulate them from the cold ground.
• Remove wet clothing if possible and replace with dry clothing.
• Wrap patient in blankets or put patient in a sleeping bag. Another person can share the bag for body heat.
• Apply hot compresses to groin, neck and chest.
• Give warm non alcoholic drinks to drink. DO NOT give alcoholic drinks.
• If hiking or camping wrap warm stones and place then near the patient.
• DO NOT rub or massage the person. Hypothermia patients are at risk for cardiac arrest and need to be handled gently.
• DO NOT apply direct heat to warm the patient. Don't use heating pads, hot water or heat lamps.
• DO NOT apply heat to the arms and legs this can force cold blood back to the core of the body the lungs, brain and heart causing the body temperature to drop. This can be fatal.
• DO NOT let person become unconscious.