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Backpacker Magazine – January 2012

Escape Plan: Warm a Hypothermia Victim

Treat severe hypothermia with this life saving technique.

by: Kristy Holland

Hypothermia Wrap (by Supercorn)
Hypothermia Wrap (by Supercorn)


>> Treat Mild Hypothermia
 
Change into dry, insulating layers and do light exercises, like jumping jacks or sit-ups. Eat and drink; warm foods (such as steaming soups or hot chocolate) are better, but even cold meals and liquids will boost metabolism and add calories, raising your body temperature. Apply external heat like a hot-water-filled bottle to the chest or arm- pits. Insulate bare skin from direct heat.

>> Treat Severe Hypothermia
If the victim stops shivering due to energy loss, treat the situation as a life-or-death emergency. Handle his rigid muscles gently, and if the victim stops breathing, give rescue breaths, but don’t perform CPR. Bundle the affected person in an insulating and windproof hypothermia wrap (see illo).

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READERS COMMENTS

Star Star
Dr. Naventurian
Feb 10, 2013

You can't warm a hypothermic solely by wrapping. Wraps keep heat in, but if there is no heat wraps do no good. You have to have a heat source.

Carry disposable footwarmers or handwarmers. Place them (not directly on skin) above femoral arteries (upper legs) and carotids (neck). Then wrap. You can also wrap the patient with non-victims to share body warmth.

Hot liquids are key, as they go to the core quickly.

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Richard R
Jul 06, 2012

My son had a serious case of hypothermia a few years back and we used hot or warm jello liquid to bring him back quickly. use the original with all of the sugar which will give the victim lots of energy while warming the core from inside. i always have a bag or two with me on my outings.

Eric B.
Feb 28, 2012

The best way to warm severe hypothermia victims in the field is to try to warm their TORSO first. This can be done with very warm water bottles against the torso flesh.

Do NOT warm the arms and legs with extra heat at the same time. To do so will cause "Rebound" Hypothermia". i.e. the colder blood in teh extremeties will flow more rapidly into the core and lower the cor temperature dangerously.

A warm water enema is also a good way to warm the core. In all cases warming fluids need to be measured with a thermometer to be sure they are around 100 F. to 110 F.

Once a hypothermia victim is lucid and recovering warm electrolyte drinks like CytoMax should be given.

Art of War
Feb 06, 2012

The best way to warm another person is skin on skin contact. This is the fast way to do it which according to this article is necessary because the hypothermia is severe. The warm person will be hugging a popsicle and will feel uncomfortable whereas the cold person will be getting hope. Also, administer warm/hot fluids that are not to hot to burn them but hot as possible.

Ed A
Feb 05, 2012

From my experience and learning, if you put a person with acute hypothermia into a sleeping bag, that may not help at all. REASON: His body can't produce heat to keep himself or the bag warm. My understanding is a sleeping bag already warmed up is a possibility or keep the person moving and then into the bag. If reasonable, put the patient in with another person who will provide the body warmth for both (minimal clothing). I've also been led to understand that having a person with hypothermia go to sleep while cold without warming them up may lead to death - since his extremities may end up getting less blood, including the brain, and increase the possibilities of organ shutdown. Confirm or correct please!

Scoutmaster Ed
Feb 04, 2012

Obviously the assumption one has to make when reading this is that there is no heat source available, because the first treatment (after moving the patient out of the weather and removing any wet clothing) is to *slowly* warm the person with a fire, a stove, a car heater, etc. (though where those 'hot water bottles' came from then is beyond me).
That said, I think the author intended "mild" to mean "sub-acute". And, as long as the subject is still shivering (i.e. mild or sub-acute hypothermia) it is absolutely fine to have them exercise, since this is essentially what shivering is, the muscles generating heat. Just don't let them sweat in the cold weather. And of course, warm liquids (never hot!) and high carb foods are always prescribed.

Archbishop
Feb 03, 2012

Sorry not trying to be a know it all, but this article leaves some critical info out.
This article needs more details as to HOW the patient became hypothermic before you can really treat effectively, and safely.
Is the patient suffering Acute, or sub-acute hypothermia?
Acute hypothermia= man is doing fine until he falls into freezing water. Pull him out of the water and treat him as above.
Sub-acute hypothermia= person has been wandering all day without a jacket or too lite of a jacket in cool weather. (Around 45 degrees or so.) His body is now at the point where it is no longer capable of producing enough heat to compensate for ambient temps. Telling this man to do jumping jacks could actually make this person worse. He needs nutrients replenished and a warm sleeping bag, or fire to bring him back up.

Archbishop
Feb 03, 2012

Sorry not trying to be a know it all, but this article leaves some critical info out.
This article needs more details as to HOW the patient became hypothermic before you can really treat effectively, and safely.
Is the patient suffering Acute, or sub-acute hypothermia?
Acute hypothermia= man is doing fine until he falls into freezing water. Pull him out of the water and treat him as above.
Sub-acute hypothermia= person has been wandering all day without a jacket or too lite of a jacket in cool weather. (Around 45 degrees or so.) His body is now at the point where it is no longer capable of producing enough heat to compensate for ambient temps. Telling this man to do jumping jacks could actually make this person worse. He needs nutrients replenished and a warm sleeping bag, or fire to bring him back up.

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