Jasper County
Health Department
106 E. Edwards St.
Newton, IL 62448
HOURS:
Mon. - Fri.
8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Late appointments for other services will be scheduled as needed.
PUBLIC HEALTH
(618) 783-4436

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
(618) 783-4154

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(618) 783-5206
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NURSING DIRECTOR'S NOTES

Deborah’s Director Notes

Hypothermia & Frostbite Cold - Related Conditions
written by Connie Kerner, RN
With the temperature plunging and the wind chill factor below zero, it’s a good time to review cold related conditions. The most common are Hypothermia and Frostbite.  

Hypothermia:  

Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F (37 C). Hypothermia occurs as your body temperature passes below 95 F (35 C).

When your body temperature drops, your heart, nervous system and other organs cannot work correctly. Left untreated, hypothermia eventually leads to complete failure of your heart and respiratory system and to death.

Hypothermia is most often caused by exposure to cold weather or immersion in a cold body of water.   

Frostbite:

When exposed to very cold temperatures, skin and underlying tissues may freeze, resulting in frostbite. The areas most likely to be affected by frostbite are your hands, feet, nose and ears. s New Roman; color: #555555"> Frostbite looks white or grayish-yellow, is very cold and has a hard or waxy feel. Your skin may also itch, burn or feel numb. Severe frostbite can cause blistering and hardening. As the area thaws, the flesh becomes red and painful.

Causes:

Hypothermia/Frostbite can occurs when your body loses heat faster than it produces it. The most common causes of hypothermia/Frostbite are exposure to cold weather conditions or cold water, but prolonged exposure to any environment colder than your body can lead to hypothermia/Frostbite if you aren't dressed appropriately or can't control the conditions. Specific conditions leading to hypothermia/Frostbite include:

  • Wearing clothes that aren't warm enough for weather conditions
  • Staying out in the cold too long
  • Unable to get out of wet clothes or move to a warm, dry location
  • Accidental falls in water, as in a boating accident
  • Inadequate heating in the home, especially for older people and infants
  • Air conditioning that is too cold, especially for older people and infants

 First-aid care:

  • Be gentle. Handle him or her gently. Limit movements to only those that are necessary. Don't massage or rub the person. Excessive, vigorous or jarring movements may trigger cardiac arrest.
  • Move the person out of the cold. Move the person to a warm, dry location if possible. If you're unable to move the person out of the cold, shield him or her from the cold and wind as much as possible.
  • Remove wet clothing. If the person is wearing wet clothing, remove it. Cut away clothing if necessary to avoid excessive movement.
  • Cover the person with blankets. Use layers of dry blankets or coats to warm the person. Cover the person's head, leaving only the face exposed.
  • Insulate the person's body from the cold ground. If you're outside, lay the person on his or her back on a blanket or other warm surface.
  • Monitor breathing. A person with severe hypothermia OR Frostbite 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.
  • Share body heat. To warm the person's body, remove your clothing and lie next to the person, making skin-to-skin contact. Then cover both of your bodies with blankets.
  • Provide warm beverages. If the affected person is alert and able to swallow, provide a warm, nonalcoholic, non - caffeinated beverage to help warm the body.
  • Use warm, dry compresses. Use a first-aid warm compress (a plastic fluid-filled bag that warms up when squeezed), or a makeshift compress of warm water in a plastic bottle or a dryer-warmed towel. Apply a compress only to the neck, chest wall or groin. Don't apply a warm compress to the arms or legs. Heat applied to the arms and legs forces cold blood back toward the heart, lungs and brain, causing the core body temperature to drop. This can be fatal.
  • Don't apply direct heat. Don't use hot water, a heating pad or a heating lamp to warm the person. The extreme heat can damage the skin or induce cardiac arrest.
  • Don't walk on frostbitten feet or toes if possible.
  • Don't thaw the affected part unless instructed by a medical professional. The affected parts will never be thawed if there's any chance the affected areas will freeze again. If they're already thawed out, wrap them up so that they don't become frozen again. (If the fingers & toes are frozen wrap them with sterile or clean bandages between each digit so they will not web together.     

Get emergency medical help.

*****************************

Deborah Riddle R.N., B.S.N.
Director of Nursing
Jasper County Health Department
 
 


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