Severe hypothermia

Severe hypothermia is considered to be a drop in body temperature below 33ºC/91.4ºF.

It is due to prolonged exposure to cold environments (mountains, cold rooms, cold water) and/or with little warm clothing. Intense exercise in cold environments without sufficient food or water intake may cause it. Rarely it will be caused by a lesion in the body temperature regulating center, located in the hypothalamus of the brain.

It manifests with cold, clammy skin, weakness, headache, tremors, drowsiness, confusion and slow heart and respiratory rates.

The diagnosis is clinical, by means of an interrogation of what happened and a complete physical examination with the taking of vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate). A blood test is usually performed to complete the study.

Treatment varies according to the severity of the episode. Body temperature should be increased by applying local heat and warm serum therapy. Proper oxygenation and pulmonary ventilation will be ensured by applying oxygen therapy and sometimes assisted ventilation. Hospital admission is necessary to correct imbalances in blood tests and monitor vital signs.

If you assist a person with signs of severe hypothermia you should call for help immediately, try to maintain body heat by approaching the person, remove wet clothing and apply dry clothing, move the person to a covered area and try to keep the person awake. Do not apply direct heat or allow the person to drink alcohol.