Hypothermia Treatment And Prevention

Hypothermia is the result of a person being exposed to prolonged cold temperatures or cold water. In extreme cases a person can die, but most cases are only mild and with proper treatment the affected person will make a full recovery.

Hypothermia Treatment

The first thing to do is to move indoors and out of the cold, where it is warm. You should remove any wet clothing, including shirts, gloves, socks, pants, hats and shoes and put on dry clothes. You should avoid taking a warm shower or bath until after your body temperature has increased.

Cover up with blankets and avoid cold drafts. Heating pads, hot water bottles and electric blankets can also be used to help warm up the body.

Warm fluids should be drunk, like hot herbal teas or warm water. You should avoid coffee and other warm beverages that can contain high amounts of caffeine, as well as alcoholic beverages.

Hypothermia Prevention

The best prevention is to avoid being outside when it is extremely cold, wet, windy, snowy or rainy and stay indoors where it is warm. If you must be outside, you should wear clothing that will not absorb water but provides protection against the cold.

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Wear boots, hats, gloves, scarves, snow pants, and dress in layers underneath, including long underwear, t-shirts, long sleeved shirts, pants, and thick socks.

Take a break about every half hour and move indoors and warm back up before returning outside. You should also change any clothing that has gotten wet with dry clothing before returning outside.

If you begin to feel cold or start shivering uncontrollably, move indoors as these are the early warning signs for hypothermia. You should try to schedule activities outside during the middle of the day when it is the warmest outside and avoid activities early in the morning or early evening as these times are colder.

Children like to play in the snow and as a result parents should monitor the amount of time they are allowed to be outdoors. Make your children come inside on a regular basis, warm back up, and then go back out and play some more.