Winter is just around the corner and keeping warm is essential. In a survival situation, getting hyperthermia can be frightening, even fatal! Hyperthermia happens when the body absorbs more heat than it can create and this leads to "a decrease in the core body temperature to a level at which normal muscular and cerebral functions are impaired." - Medicine for Mountaineering

Conditions Leading to Hypothermia:

Cold temperatures

Poor clothing and equipment

Being wet
Fatigue and exhaustion
Dehydration
Little food intake
Alcohol intake 
Lack of knowledge on subject

How to know if someone is Hypothermic

Shivering 

If you ask the person who has hypothermia a question that requires higher reasoning  they won't be able to do it. 

If shivering cannot be stopped voluntarily = moderate to severe hypothermia

If you can't get a radial pulse (at the wrist) it indicates a core temp below 90 - 86 degrees

The person is curled up in a fetal position.

Signs and Symptoms 

Mild Hypothermia:

Shivering 

Slurring and mumbling 

Stumbling

Signs that show changes in motor coordination; Can't do complex motor functions, BUT can still walk & talk.

Beginning to show loss of consciousness

Moderate Hypothermia: 

Dazed and confused

Loss of fine motor coordination in hands  ex: can't zip up jacket.

Slurred speech

Severe shivering

Irrational behavior ex: taking off clothing even if they are cold.

Severe Hypothermia:  (aka life threatening) 

Shivering violently then pauses. The pauses get longer until shivering finally stops  ' the heat output from burning glycogen in the muscles is not sufficient to counteract the continually dropping core temperature, the body shuts down on shivering to conserve glucose'-Medicine for Mountaineering

Person falls to the ground and can't walk.

Curls up into a foetal position to maintain heat

Muscle rigidity 'because blood flow is reduced and due to lactic acid and CO2 build-up in the muscles'-

Medicine for Mountaineering

Pale skin

Pupils dilated

Pulse rate decreases

The body tries to move into hibernation, shutting down blood flow and reducing breathing and heart rates.

At 86 degrees: The person looks dead but is still alive:  called a 'metabolic icebox'-Medicine for Mountaineering

Death from Hypothermia

Breathing becomes erratic and shallow

Semi-conscious

Cardiac arrhythmias develop

Heart stops

How to Treat Hypothermia:

Rewarm the victim asap! 

Reduce Heat Loss

Get the person naked in a sleeping bag and have another warm them up.

Add layers of dry clothing

Increased physical activity

Build a Shelter

Think Food and Fluids!

Crucial to keep a hypothermic person hydrated! Food high in calories and hot! Make a fire.

Carbohydrates - quickly released into blood stream but provided brief heat.

Proteins - slowly released and over a longer period

Fats -slowly released, over a long period. Warning:  it takes more energy to break fats down into glucose and takes more water to break down fats leading to increased fluid loss.

Hot liquids 

Sugars (kindling)

GORP - has both carbohydrates (sticks) and proteins/fats (logs)

Avoid!!!!

Alcohol =  increases peripheral heat loss

Caffeine = a diuretic - causes water loss increasing dehydration

Tobacco/nicotine= increases risk of frostbite

Now you are safe to venture off into the cold with confidence!

Safe travelling.