1. HYPOTHERMIA

2. Objectives and Outcomes Learn the meaning of hypothermia. Learn the meaning of hypothermia. Understand what causes hypothermia. Understand what causes hypothermia. Find out who is most susceptible to hypothermia how to treat it. Find out who is most susceptible to hypothermia how to treat it. Discover how to stay warm properly. Discover how to stay warm properly.

3. Hypothermia Hypothermia develops when the body temperature falls below 35ºC (95ºF). Older children are most at risk after over- exerting themselves in poor weather conditions or after falling into cold water. Babies are also prone to hypothermia. Their temperature regulation is not fully developed and if they spend too long in a cold room, they can lose warmth rapidly.

4. Common Causes Hypothermia occurs when more heat is lost than the body can generate. Hypothermia occurs when more heat is lost than the body can generate. It is usually caused by extended exposure to the cold. It is usually caused by extended exposure to the cold. Common causes include: Common causes include: Being outside without enough protective clothing in winter. Being outside without enough protective clothing in winter. Falling overboard from a boat into cold water. Falling overboard from a boat into cold water. Wearing wet clothing in windy or cold weather. Wearing wet clothing in windy or cold weather. Heavy exertion, not drinking enough fluids, or not eating enough in cold weather. Heavy exertion, not drinking enough fluids, or not eating enough in cold weather.

5. Signs and Symptoms Feel sleepy Feel sleepy Confused Confused Weak Weak Shiver a lot Shiver a lot Muscle stiffness Muscle stiffness Become uncoordinated Become uncoordinated Your fingers and toes may turn blue. Your fingers and toes may turn blue. After awhile you may start to breathe slower and you may finally pass out. After awhile you may start to breathe slower and you may finally pass out.

6. GENERAL CARE Care: Have someone take you to the hospital. While waiting for help to come, cover yourself with a blanket or take a warm (not hot) bath. If you can swallow, drink warm liquids like tea or broth (clear soup). Care: Have someone take you to the hospital. While waiting for help to come, cover yourself with a blanket or take a warm (not hot) bath. If you can swallow, drink warm liquids like tea or broth (clear soup).

7. First Aid Care If any symptoms of hypothermia are present, especially confusion or changes in mental status, immediately call 911. If any symptoms of hypothermia are present, especially confusion or changes in mental status, immediately call 911. If the person is unconscious, check airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing or CPR. If the victim is breathing less than 6 breaths per minute, begin rescue breathing. If the person is unconscious, check airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing or CPR. If the victim is breathing less than 6 breaths per minute, begin rescue breathing. Take the person inside to room temperature and cover him or her with warm blankets. If going indoors is not possible, get the person out of the wind and use a blanket to provide insulation from the cold ground. Cover the person's head and neck to help retain body heat. Take the person inside to room temperature and cover him or her with warm blankets. If going indoors is not possible, get the person out of the wind and use a blanket to provide insulation from the cold ground. Cover the person's head and neck to help retain body heat. Once inside, remove any wet or constricting clothes and replace them with dry clothing. Once inside, remove any wet or constricting clothes and replace them with dry clothing. Warm the person. If necessary, use your own body heat to aid the warming. Apply warm compresses to the neck, chest wall, and groin. If the person is alert and can easily swallow, give warm, sweetened, nonalcoholic fluids to aid the warming. Warm the person. If necessary, use your own body heat to aid the warming. Apply warm compresses to the neck, chest wall, and groin. If the person is alert and can easily swallow, give warm, sweetened, nonalcoholic fluids to aid the warming. Stay with the person until medical help arrives. Stay with the person until medical help arrives.

8. Do’s and Don’ts To keep your body temperature from dropping again, wear warm clothing when out in cold weather. Dress in layers of windproof and waterproof clothing and try to stay dry. Try not to go out in really cold weather. Do not drink alcohol or smoke. It can lower your body temperature even more. To keep your body temperature from dropping again, wear warm clothing when out in cold weather. Dress in layers of windproof and waterproof clothing and try to stay dry. Try not to go out in really cold weather. Do not drink alcohol or smoke. It can lower your body temperature even more.

9. Prevention Wear proper clothing in cold temperatures to protect your body. These include: Wear proper clothing in cold temperatures to protect your body. These include: Mittens (not gloves) Mittens (not gloves) Wind-proof, water-resistant, many-layered clothing Wind-proof, water-resistant, many-layered clothing Two pairs of socks (cotton next to skin, then wool) Two pairs of socks (cotton next to skin, then wool) Scarf and hat that cover the ears (to avoid major heat loss through the top of your head) Scarf and hat that cover the ears (to avoid major heat loss through the top of your head) Avoid: Avoid: Extremely cold temperature, especially with high winds Extremely cold temperature, especially with high winds Wet clothes Wet clothes Alcohol and Smoking Alcohol and Smoking Extreme exertion in cold weather Extreme exertion in cold weather

10. Prevent with these 3 rules! Layer it on: Several layers of loose clothes are better than one heavy layer, because more warm air is trapped around your body. Layer it on: Several layers of loose clothes are better than one heavy layer, because more warm air is trapped around your body. Keep it dry: Your body loses heat 25 times faster when you are wet. So dry clothes and waterproof boots are a must. Keep it dry: Your body loses heat 25 times faster when you are wet. So dry clothes and waterproof boots are a must. Top it off: Wearing a hat and a scarf conserves heat and enables the body to send more warm blood to the hands and feet. Top it off: Wearing a hat and a scarf conserves heat and enables the body to send more warm blood to the hands and feet.

11. Did you know? Hands are kept warmer in mittens than gloves. Hands are kept warmer in mittens than gloves. If your hands and feet are cold put on a hat! Why?... If your hands and feet are cold put on a hat! Why?... 40% of the bodies heat is lost through your head! 40% of the bodies heat is lost through your head! Wool and tightly knit acrylic fibers are the best fabric for trapping in heat. Wool and tightly knit acrylic fibers are the best fabric for trapping in heat.

12. Nutrition and Hypothermia Proper nutrition is essential to keeping your body strong and healthy. Proper nutrition is essential to keeping your body strong and healthy. The better your nutrition the better chances you have when it comes to keeping your body warm! The better your nutrition the better chances you have when it comes to keeping your body warm! Avoid: Smoking, Alcohol, Empty Calories! Avoid: Smoking, Alcohol, Empty Calories!

13. Frostbite Frostbite is a cold injury, in which the damage to the body is caused by tissue freezing. The temperature must be below freezing for this to occur. Frostbite is a cold injury, in which the damage to the body is caused by tissue freezing. The temperature must be below freezing for this to occur. Frostbite can occur on anybody part but most likely on: Frostbite can occur on anybody part but most likely on: The Face: Especially ears, nose, cheeks, and chin. The Face: Especially ears, nose, cheeks, and chin. The Hands. The Hands. The Feet. The Feet.

14. Frostbite Frostbite is characterized by white, waxy skin that feels numb and hard. It requires immediate emergency medical attention. Frostbite is characterized by white, waxy skin that feels numb and hard. It requires immediate emergency medical attention.

15. Common Cold Weather Myths Alcohol keeps you warm. Alcohol keeps you warm. The best solution to warmer hands is thicker gloves. The best solution to warmer hands is thicker gloves. A snowstorm is more dangerous than a rainstorm. A snowstorm is more dangerous than a rainstorm. Three pairs of socks are better than one or two. Three pairs of socks are better than one or two. Rubbing snow on a frostbitten area will re- warm the area by improving circulation. Rubbing snow on a frostbitten area will re- warm the area by improving circulation.

16. Simulation to very mild hypothermia http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/first_aid_acti on/flash/quiz_hypo_child//index.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/first_aid_acti on/flash/quiz_hypo_child//index.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/first_aid_acti on/flash/quiz_hypo_child//index.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/first_aid_acti on/flash/quiz_hypo_child//index.shtml