Trindel Insurance Fund Hypothermia Presented by; Gene Herndon Safety Officer, Trindel Insurance Fund

What is it? First some definitions. Hypothermia Body Core Body Periphery Vasodilatation Vasoconstriction Radiation Conduction Convection Evaporation

Definitions Hypothermia -  A decrease in the core body temperature to a level where normal muscular and cerebral functions are impaired. Body Core –  The internal body organs – Heart, lungs, and brain. Periphery –  The body appendages, skin and muscle tissue

More definitions Vasodilatation-  Increase in size of vascular system providing more blood flowVasoconstriction-  Decrease in size of vascular system restricting blood flow Radiation Heat Loss-  Loss of body heat to environment due to temperature gradient.

More Definitions Conduction-  Heat loss due to direct contact between objectsConvection-  Conduction when one object is moving – windEvaporation-  Heat loss as water converts from liquid to a gas.

How does your heating system work? Walking HVAC system  Generates heat  Retains Heat  Gets rid of heat The thermostat “hypothalamus” in the brain controls the system Body core temperature is critical

How Your Body Regulates Core Temperature  Increase or decrease blood flow from periphery to critical body core, heart, lungs and brain.  Sweating cools core through evaporation  Shivering generates heat through muscle movement.  Increasing/Decreasing activity

Conditions leading to Hypothermia Cold temperatures Improper clothing and equipment Wetness Fatigue, exhaustion Dehydration Poor food intake No knowledge of hypothermia Alcohol intake - causes vasodilatation leading to increased heat loss

What are "hypothermia" temperatures? Below freezing 40 degrees - wind and rain 60 degrees – High winds - hurricane Any temperature less than 98.6 degrees can be linked to hypothermia or peripheral circulation problems such as trench foot and frostbite.

Signs and Symptoms of Hypothermia Watch for the "-Umbles“  Stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, grumbles Moderate Hypothermia-  Dazed consciousness, Slurred speech  Loss of fine motor coordination - particularly in hands Violent shivering  Irrational behavior - Paradoxical Undressing - person starts to take off clothing, unaware s/he is cold  "I don't care attitude" - flattened affect

Signs and Symptoms of Hypothermia  Shivering occurs in waves, violent then pause, pauses get longer until shivering finally ceases  Person falls to the ground, can't walk, curls up into a fetal position to conserve heat  Muscle rigidity develops - Skin is pale  Pupils dilate, Pulse rate decreases  At 90 degrees the body tries to move into hibernation,.  At 86 degrees the body is in a state of "metabolic icebox."

How to Assess if someone is Hypothermic  If shivering can be stopped voluntarily = mild hypothermia  Ask the person a question that requires higher reasoning in the brain (count backwards from 100 by 9's). hypothermia  If you can't get a radial pulse at the wrist it indicates a core temp below degrees  The person may be curled up in a fetal position.

Treating Hypothermia Basic Principal  Conserve heat the victim has  Replace the body fuel to generate the body heat  Victim can re-warm

Mild - Moderate Hypothermia Reduce Heat Loss  Additional layers of dry clothing  Increase physical activity  Shelter Add Fuel & Fluids  Carbohydrates for quick heat surge  Protein for slower release over longer period Food intake  Hot liquids  Sugars Things to avoid  Alcohol, Caffeine, Tobacco Add Heat  External heat source

Severe Hypothermia Reduce Heat Loss  Provide shell of insulation  Make sure victim stays dry  Apply Hypothermia Wrap Add Fuel & Fluids  Warm sugar water  Dilute Jell-O Add Heat  Apply to neck, arm pits, groin and palmsAfter-drop  Body temp can drop during re-warming