Get to know hypothermia and the right way to do first aid

Hypothermia is a drastic decrease in body temperature, to below 35º Celsius (normal body temperature is around 37º Celsius). This means that you lose body heat faster than your body produces it. The most common cause of hypothermia is prolonged exposure to cold weather conditions - this risk is especially greater in winter.

When is someone at risk for hypothermia?

Indonesia has no winters, but you can still run the risk of developing hypothermia from being outside during prolonged cold weather (such as hiking or swimming), being in a room with poor ventilation, or drowning. Basically, prolonged exposure to an environment that is colder than body temperature can cause hypothermia if you are not dressed properly or cannot control the condition. People who are unable to move much to generate heat, such as the elderly, infants, or adults who are sick, are also at particular risk for developing hypothermia.

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If not treated promptly, hypothermia can be life threatening. Hypothermia should be treated as a medical emergency.

Signs and symptoms of hypothermia

The signs of hypothermia vary depending on how low a person's temperature has dropped. Shivering is probably the first symptom you notice when your temperature starts to drop because shivering is your body's automatic defense against cold temperatures - an attempt to warm yourself up. At first, shivering is usually followed by fatigue, slight confusion, lack of coordination, shuffling speech, rapid breathing, and cold or pale skin.

As the temperature decreases, the shivering becomes more violent, although it will stop completely as the hypothermia worsens. As time goes on, the pulse tends to weaken and the breath also starts to slow down and become shorter. You may be delirious and struggle to breathe or move, then gradually lose consciousness. In severe hypothermia, you may lose consciousness without clear signs of breathing or a pulse.

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A person with hypothermia is usually not aware of his condition because the symptoms of extreme cold often appear gradually. The confusion the person may display can also lead to risky behavior, such as refusing to wear warm clothes.

Infants with hypothermia may appear without problems; shows bright red skin but will feel cold. They may also appear lethargic, extremely calm, and refuse to eat.

How to treat hypothermia?

Hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires emergency medical attention. Call 118/119 or your local emergency number if you see someone with signs of hypothermia or if you suspect someone has had excessive and prolonged exposure to unprotected weather or cold water.

If medical treatment is not immediately available, do the following to prevent further heat loss and also to try to warm it up again.

• If at all possible, move him to a warm, dry room slowly and carefully. Violent, spontaneous movements can trigger a dangerous irregular heartbeat.
• Carefully take off any wet clothing and dry off properly. Warm the body starting from the chest and head first. Afterwards, cover his body with a blanket and dry clothes while waiting for medical assistance to arrive. Use your own body heat if no other source of heat is available.
• If possible, offer warm drinks or high-energy foods, such as chocolate, to keep them warm. Only do this if the person can swallow normally - ask them to cough to see if they can swallow.

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If the victim is unconscious, or shows no pulse or signs of breathing, call emergency assistance immediately. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) should be given as soon as possible - if you know how - when a pulse cannot be felt and there are no signs of breathing. Check and check your pulse for a full minute before starting CPR, as your heart may be beating very slowly and you should not start CPR if you have a heartbeat. CPR should be continued without rest, with no sign of breathing or heartbeat, until paramedics arrive or the person is admitted to the hospital.

It's important to treat people with hypothermia gently and carefully. Once the body temperature begins to rise, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket. Protect the head and neck too. In the hospital, health care providers will continue to warm up efforts, including giving warm intravenous fluids and moist oxygen.

Which should be avoided when dealing with hypothermia

There are certain things you should not do when helping someone who is hypothermic because acting recklessly can make the condition worse, such as:

• Do not warm your body from the hands and feet. Warming the tips of the legs and feet as a first action can cause shock
• Don't massage his feet and hands either
• Do not immerse the body in warm / hot water
• Do not give alcohol or caffeinated drinks
• Do not use a heating lamp to keep him warm
• Do not provide drinks or food for consumption if the person is unconscious
• If no heat source is available, hot patches or compresses can be applied to the chest, armpits, neck and groin; however this can cause skin burns.

Trying to warm a hypothermic body with hot water, massage, warm compresses, and heat lamps can cause the blood vessels in your arms and legs to open up too quickly. This can lead to a dramatic drop in blood pressure to vital organs such as the brain, heart, lungs and kidneys, potentially leading to a heart attack and even death.

How to avoid hypothermia?

There are several things you can do to prevent hypothermia. Simple steps can help, such as wearing appropriate warm clothing in cold weather and ensuring that children are protected when they go outside.

Wear a hat or other protection to prevent body heat from escaping from the head, face and neck. Protect your hands with thick gloves. Try to keep your body dry. Be careful to keep your hands and feet dry, as it's easy for cold water to get into the gloves and boots. Take off wet clothes as soon as possible, for example after swimming or being flooded.

Don't drink alcohol if you are going to be outside for long periods of time in cold weather or before going to bed on a cold night. When possible, supervise sick neighbors and parents to ensure that their homes are kept warm in cold weather.