Hypothermia is a condition when the body temperature drops below 35oC. When the body temperature is far below normal (37oC), the function of the nervous system and other organs of the body will be disturbed. If not treated immediately, hypothermia can lead to heart failure, respiratory system disorders, and even death.
Causes of Hypothermia
Hypothermia occurs when the body produces less heat than it loses. A number of conditions have the potential to cause a lot of body heat to be lost and cause hypothermia, namely:
- Too long in the cold.
- Wearing clothes that are less thick in cold weather.
- Too long wearing wet clothes.
- Too long in the water, for example due to a ship accident.
Hypothermia can be experienced by anyone. However, there are several factors that increase a person's risk of developing hypothermia, namely:
- Age. Hypothermia is prone to be experienced by infants and the elderly.
- Fatigue.
- Mental disorders, eg dementia.
- Consumption of alcohol and drugs.
- Take medications for depression and sedatives.
- Hypothyroidism, arthritis, stroke, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease.
In infants, temperatures that are too cold can make the baby experience cold sweats due to hypothermia.
Symptoms of Hypothermia
Symptoms of hypothermia vary, depending on the severity. The following are symptoms of hypothermia from mild to severe:
- Pale skin and feels cold to the touch
- Numb
- Shivering
- Response decreased
- Speech disorders
- Stiff and hard to move
- Loss of consciousness
- Shortness of breath until breathing slows
- Heart pounding until the heart rate slows down
In infants, hypothermia is characterized by skin that feels cold and looks red. Babies also appear quiet, weak, and don't want to suckle or eat.
Hypothermia Treatment
Hypothermia is an emergency condition that must be treated immediately. The initial action that needs to be taken when meeting people who have symptoms of hypothermia is to look for the presence or absence of a pulse and breathing. If the pulse and breathing have stopped, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and seek medical attention.
If the person is still breathing and the pulse is still there, take the following steps to bring his body temperature back to normal:
- Move him to a drier, warmer place. Move carefully because excessive movement can trigger the heartbeat to stop.
- If the clothes he wears are wet, then replace them with dry clothes.
- Cover the body with a blanket or thick coat to keep warm.
- If he is conscious and able to swallow, give him a warm, sweet drink.
- Give warm and dry compresses to help warm the body. Place the compress on the neck, chest, and groin. Avoid placing the compress on your arm or leg, as this causes cold blood to flow back into your heart, lungs, and brain.
- Avoid using hot water, heating pads, or heating lamps to warm people with hypothermia. Excessive heat can damage the skin and cause an irregular heartbeat.
- Accompany and monitor the person's condition, until medical help arrives.
After arriving at the hospital, hypothermic sufferers will receive a series of medical measures, in the form of:
- Administering humidified oxygen through a mask or nasal tube, to warm the respiratory tract and help raise body temperature.
- Administration of warmed intravenous fluids.
- Suction and heating of blood, to then flow back into the body. This process uses a dialysis machine.
- Administration of warmed sterile fluids. This sterile fluid is inserted into the abdominal cavity using a special tube.
Complications of Hypothermia
Handling needs to be done immediately on hypothermic conditions to prevent complications, even death. Complications that can arise are:
- Frostbite, namely injury to the skin and underlying tissue due to freezing.
- chilblains, This is inflammation of the small blood vessels and nerves in the skin.
- Trench foot, namely damage to blood vessels and nerves in the legs due to being submerged in water for too long.
- Gangrene or network damage.
Hypothermia Prevention
There are some simple steps you can take to prevent hypothermia, namely:
- Keep your body dry. Avoid wearing wet clothes for a long time because they can absorb body heat.
- Wear clothes according to the weather conditions and the activities to be carried out, especially when going up a mountain or camping in a cold place. Wear a jacket or thick clothing to maintain body temperature.
- Use hats, scarves, gloves, socks, and boots when going outside.
- Perform simple movements to warm the body.
- Avoid drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine. Consume hot drinks and foods.
Meanwhile, to prevent hypothermia in infants and children, the ways that can be done are:
- Keep the room temperature always warm.
- Wear a jacket or thick clothes, when the child will be active outside the house when the air temperature is cold.
- Take them to a warm room immediately, if they seem to start shivering.