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.
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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