Exercise, Weather and Hydration--Hypothermia Common Core Standard NPA 4.2 Use appropriate methods for avoiding and responding to climate-related physical conditions during physical activity. You have arrived at Exercise, Weather and Hydration--Hypothermia. We will be covering the Common Core Standard called NPA 4.2 What we want is for you to be able to do is use appropriate methods for avoiding and responding to climate-related physical conditions during physical activity.

Think about it… People exercise in all kinds of weather. What kind of things should I be concerned about when exercising in extreme temperatures? What role does hydration play in all of this? These are the topics we will be discussing in this lesson. Have you ever heard stories of people who died in cold weather? It can happen to anyone who is exposed to cold weather in the right conditions. What can you do to avoid becoming a victim in extremely cold weather? Let’s find out!

Hypothermia Pay attention to the word HYPO in the condition called hypothermia. It sounds very similar to another condition that is the exact opposite, so we don’t want you to get confused about which term you are learning about. This is a condition caused by having an extremely cold body temperature. It sounds very much like hyperthermia, which is caused by having an extremely hot body temperature. For this lesson, we will just focus on the HYPOTHERMIA.

Hypothermia Hypothermia is when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature (below 95degrees) Have you ever had a fever of 100 degrees or more? You will notice that there are only a few degrees difference from your normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees. In the case of HYPOTHERMIA, your body temperature is heading in the opposite direction (colder) and is just as dangerous as having a high body temperature. A normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees

Hypothermia - Causes Wearing clothes that aren't warm enough for weather conditions Staying out in the cold too long Having wet clothes from sweat or being submersed in cold water. Inadequate heating in the home, especially for older people and infants It doesn’t have to be freezing or have snow on the ground for you to get hypothermia. It could just as easily happen on a windy day where you have sweaty clothing. In some cases, older people and babies ended up with hypothermia in an air conditioned house. It can also happen for people who have no heat in their house during the winter.

Hypothermia - Symptoms Shivering Clumsiness or lack of coordination Slurred speech or mumbling Confusion or difficulty thinking Poor decision making, such as trying to remove warm clothes Progressive loss of consciousness Slow, shallow breathing The symptoms for hypothermia will become more severe, the longer you are exposed to the cold. Violent shivering will prevent any fine motor skills and you will notice people starting to stumble. You will notice a person not to acting in a normal way, physically or mentally. It is important to not let a person go to sleep, try to keep them conscious.

Hypothermia - Treatment Be gentle.  Move the person out of the cold.  Remove wet clothing.  Cover the person with blankets.  Monitor breathing.  Share body heat.  Provide warm beverages. A person with severe hypothermia may appear unconscious, with no apparent signs of a pulse or breathing. If the person's breathing has stopped or appears dangerously low or shallow, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately if you're trained. Don't use hot water, a heating pad or a heating lamp to warm the person. The extreme heat can damage the skin or even worse, cause irregular heartbeats so severe that they can cause the heart to stop.

Hypothermia Prevention COVER—Use clothing that covers your whole body NO OVEREXERTION—Excessive movement causes sweat! It will make your situation worse. LAYERS—Wear lightweight clothing underneath and wool on the outside. Wool clothing insulates you even when wet. Cotton is a poor choice for cold weather when it gets wet. STAY DRY—(When on land) Get out of wet clothing as soon as possible. (When submersed) Keep wet clothing on, it insulates better than not having any clothes on. Wear a hat or other protective covering to prevent body heat from escaping from your head, face and neck. Cover your hands with mittens instead of gloves. Mittens are more effective than gloves because mittens keep your fingers in closer contact with one another.

Hypothermia and Hydration Hydration is important in cool weather Drink warm fluids—they help regulate body temperature. Improves Mental Performance—Sustains proper brain function Improves Physical Performance—Improves circulation of the blood and keeps your energy levels high. Avoid caffeine—Causes water loss. The human brain is composed of 95% water; blood is 82% water; the lungs are nearly 90% water. As one can imagine, water is also the single most critical nutrient for health, growth, and development. It is not only the most important nutrient in the body, but also the most abundant. Water is critical to the balance of all the body's systems, including the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys and muscles. Many people are unaware of how water affects performance. Even being slightly dehydrated can cause poor performance, and is often overlooked. Improper hydration can result in muscle cramping, decreased strength and reduced endurance. All severely impeding athletic performance.

Hypothermia Sources: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/behar12.htm http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/behar12.htm         http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hypothermia/DS00333/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print The word HYPOTHERMIA literally means low temperature. Just remember that it is the total opposite of the other condition called HYPERTHERMIA. Hyperthermia literally means high temperature.