1. Trindel Insurance Fund Hypothermia Presented by; Gene Herndon Safety Officer, Trindel Insurance Fund www.trindel.org

2. What is it? First some definitions. Hypothermia Body Core Body Periphery Vasodilatation Vasoconstriction Radiation Conduction Convection Evaporation

3. Definitions Hypothermia -  A decrease in the core body temperature to a level where normal muscular and cerebral functions are impaired. Body Core –  The internal body organs – Heart, lungs, and brain. Periphery –  The body appendages, skin and muscle tissue

4. More definitions Vasodilatation-  Increase in size of vascular system providing more blood flowVasoconstriction-  Decrease in size of vascular system restricting blood flow Radiation Heat Loss-  Loss of body heat to environment due to temperature gradient.

5. More Definitions Conduction-  Heat loss due to direct contact between objectsConvection-  Conduction when one object is moving – windEvaporation-  Heat loss as water converts from liquid to a gas.

6. How does your heating system work? Walking HVAC system  Generates heat  Retains Heat  Gets rid of heat The thermostat “hypothalamus” in the brain controls the system Body core temperature is critical

7. How Your Body Regulates Core Temperature  Increase or decrease blood flow from periphery to critical body core, heart, lungs and brain.  Sweating cools core through evaporation  Shivering generates heat through muscle movement.  Increasing/Decreasing activity

8. Conditions leading to Hypothermia Cold temperatures Improper clothing and equipment Wetness Fatigue, exhaustion Dehydration Poor food intake No knowledge of hypothermia Alcohol intake - causes vasodilatation leading to increased heat loss

9. What are "hypothermia" temperatures? Below freezing 40 degrees - wind and rain 60 degrees – High winds - hurricane Any temperature less than 98.6 degrees can be linked to hypothermia or peripheral circulation problems such as trench foot and frostbite.

10. Signs and Symptoms of Hypothermia Watch for the "-Umbles“  Stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, grumbles Moderate Hypothermia-  Dazed consciousness, Slurred speech  Loss of fine motor coordination - particularly in hands Violent shivering  Irrational behavior - Paradoxical Undressing - person starts to take off clothing, unaware s/he is cold  "I don't care attitude" - flattened affect

11. Signs and Symptoms of Hypothermia  Shivering occurs in waves, violent then pause, pauses get longer until shivering finally ceases  Person falls to the ground, can't walk, curls up into a fetal position to conserve heat  Muscle rigidity develops - Skin is pale  Pupils dilate, Pulse rate decreases  At 90 degrees the body tries to move into hibernation,.  At 86 degrees the body is in a state of "metabolic icebox."

12. How to Assess if someone is Hypothermic  If shivering can be stopped voluntarily = mild hypothermia  Ask the person a question that requires higher reasoning in the brain (count backwards from 100 by 9's). hypothermia  If you can't get a radial pulse at the wrist it indicates a core temp below 90 - 86 degrees  The person may be curled up in a fetal position.

13. Treating Hypothermia Basic Principal  Conserve heat the victim has  Replace the body fuel to generate the body heat  Victim can re-warm

14. Mild - Moderate Hypothermia Reduce Heat Loss  Additional layers of dry clothing  Increase physical activity  Shelter Add Fuel & Fluids  Carbohydrates for quick heat surge  Protein for slower release over longer period Food intake  Hot liquids  Sugars Things to avoid  Alcohol, Caffeine, Tobacco Add Heat  External heat source

15. Severe Hypothermia Reduce Heat Loss  Provide shell of insulation  Make sure victim stays dry  Apply Hypothermia Wrap Add Fuel & Fluids  Warm sugar water  Dilute Jell-O Add Heat  Apply to neck, arm pits, groin and palmsAfter-drop  Body temp can drop during re-warming