Hypothermia

Hypothermia refers to a condition characterized by the body temperature dropping to a hazardous level. Hypothermia is ordinarily caused by an excessive exposure to the cold or a cool, damp environment. The level of the body temperature is considered hazardous when the body temperature falls below 35 degrees Celsius and becomes a medical emergency at the life-threatening 32.2 degrees Celsius or lower. Symptoms of hypothermia experienced by patients may involve mental function, shivering, unstable consciousness and motor coordination, impaired speech ability, impaired breathing, cold, pale skin, and fatigue, lethargy or apathy. Hypothermia must be treated immediately and removing the person from the cold environment is an immediate necessity. Furthermore, the hypothermic patient must be undressed from the wet clothes and be kept off the cold ground. Further treatment may include monitoring breathing, sharing body heat, giving warm drinks, giving warm IV fluids, haemodialysis that enables rapid warming of the blood. It is important that the reheating of the patient is processed slowly without using direct heat.

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