Houston – We’ve talked about protecting our homes and our plants from the freezing weather, but what about protecting ourselves and those we love? Dr. Hilary Fairbrother, emergency medicine physician at UTHealth Houston joined Derrick and Tessa with tips for avoiding hypothermia -- and the warning signs we all need to know.
What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposures to very cold temperatures. When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced. Lengthy exposures will eventually use up your body’s stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature.
How does it affect the body?
Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, because a person may not know that it’s happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.
While hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.
Signs and symptoms of hypothermia
- Shivering
- Slurred speech or mumbling
- Slow, shallow breathing
- Weak pulse
- Clumsiness or lack of coordination
- Drowsiness or very low energy
- Confusion or memory loss
- Loss of consciousness
- Bright red, cold skin (in infants)
What to do if you suspect someone has hypothermia, call 911. Then immediately take these steps:
1. Gently move the person out of the cold
2. If going indoors isn’t possible, protect the person from the wind, especially around the neck and head. Insulate the individual from the cold ground.
3. Gently remove wet clothing. Replace wet things with warm, dry coats or blankets.
4. If further warming is needed, do so gradually. For example, apply warm, dry compresses to the center of the body - neck, chest and groin. The CDC says another option is using an electric blanket, if available. If you use hot water bottles or a chemical hot pack, first wrap it in a towel before applying.
5. Offer the person warm, sweet, nonalcoholic drinks.
6. Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of life, such as breathing, coughing or movement
Dr. Fairbrother also explains how different groups of people who might have trouble getting out of cold could experience hypothermia in temperatures warmer than freezing. How does it differ from frostbite?
There’s one key difference explained in the video above.