Backpacker Magazine – BACKPACKER.com Online Exclusive

Hypothermia: Just The Facts

Quick Tips to Prevent, Recognize, and Treat Hypothermia.

by: BACKPACKER Editors

Tags:
• Survival
|
• Winter camping
|
• Threats
|
• Health & first aid
|

Hypothermia: an abnormally low body-core temperature.

Prevention:

• Wear protective clothing: hat and scarf/neck gaiter.
• Insulate yourself from the ground.
• Wear wind-proof clothing (in emergency, use a garbage bag or a pack); seek shelter
• Wear vapor barrier lining under clothes. Breathe through scarf/face mask.

Recognition: Signs of Mild Hypothermia

• Feels cold and shivers at maximum level
• Normal consciousness level, alert, normal or slightly impaired coordination
• Slurred speech, memory loss, poor judgment, carelessness

Treatment: Mild Hypothermia

1. Move person to sheltered environment
2. Replace wet clothing with dry, insulated garments
3. Give warm food and lots of sugary hot fluids
4. Wrap person in sleeping bag, plastic bag, or tarp. Huddle with person in sleeping bag.
5. Don't use heat packs/hot water bottles. Boil water so person can inhale steam; build a fire

Recognition: Signs of Profound Hypothermia

• Weak and lethargic
• Disoriented, confused, combative or irrational, or in a coma
• Lack of coordination
• Eventually, person stops shivering
• Eventually, pulse and breathing are half their normal rates

  Treatment: Profound Hypothermia:
  

  1. Handle person very gently
  2. Surround with sleeping bag, blankets or clothing
  3. Do not allow to eat or drink (potential for choking or vomiting)
  4. Get the person to a hospital

     
     
     Subscribe to Backpacker magazine
     Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter

     Name:
     Address 1:
     Address 2:
     City:
     State:	- Select - APO/FPO Americas APO/FPO Europe APO/FPO Pacific Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana North Carolina North Dakota New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York Nebraska Nevada Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont West Virginia Washington Wisconsin Wyoming American Samoa F.S. Micronesia Guam Marshall Islands Mariana Islands Puerto Rico Palau Island Trust Territories Virgin Islands Wake Island
     Zip:
     Email (req):

     Offer valid in US only.
     Canadian subscriptions | International subscriptions
     
     PRINT THIS PAGE RSS FEED
     Reader Rating: -
     Digg Delicious Yahoo Facebook Reddit StumbleUpon Google Newsvine MySpace Twitter