Hypothermia (HB)

The body’s initial response to a temperature below the comfort level of the core is called a Cold Challenge. It can be as mild as having “goosebumps” and as severe as shivering and hyperventilation.

A cold challenge causes the blood in the skin and the body’s outer shell to be moved towards the core and triggers large muscle groups to begin shivering. This action is to keep the vital organs of the core warm and to attempt to generate heat. Any time that our body loses more heat than it can generate and retain is a cold challenge. If the heat loss continues, the patient will slide into hypothermia, and will progress from mild to severe.

Treating a cold challenge is a matter of getting the patient dry, insulated, and fueled.

Water draws heat 25 times faster than air of the same temperature, so any moisture or wet clothing needs to be removed and replaced with dry clothing.

We need to keep the wind off of them and add an appropriate layer of insulation.

Providing calories is essential to heat production, so food that is easily digested or absorbed is the best option. The body quickly absorbs simple sugars, so use honey, oral glucose, or candy.