How do you treat hypothermia?

Question

Or frostbite, with someone who has been out in the cold too long?

Answer 1

you have to warm them up slowly..if warmed up too fast its dangerous

Answer 2

If you suspect hypothermia or sever frostbite, call 911. For mild cases of frostbite this works. Make sure they change their clothes. Then warm them up slowly with a blanket. Give them something warm to drink. For the fingers and toes, soak in cool water until they begin to warm up. Don't rub the affected skin. The cool water will actually feel hot to them. Then as the water begins to feel warmer, make the water luke-warm and continue soaking. The trick is to slowly warm the extremities because the water in the tissue has frozen. If you try to warm it too quickly you can damage the tissue.

Answer 3

How to Treat Frostbite

Frostbite occurs when the skin freezes due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, usually only the skin is frozen but in extreme cases it's much deeper and must be handled very delicately. The area affected usually turns much whiter than normal and can result in amputation of affected areas. Frostbite requires instant medical attention and in most cases the first areas to be affected are the fingers and toes.
Steps

1. Locate yourself in a warm indoor location and treat any signs of hypothermia. Hypothermia (lowered body temperature) should always be treated before frostbite. Locate areas affected by frostbite, these areas are often very hard and lack sensitivity although they may ache slightly. Any part of the body maybe susceptible to frostbite however the most common places are fingers, toes, ears and the nose. The first signs of frostbite are usually 'pins and needles' with some numbness.

2.Remove any wet items of clothing or tight jewelry and replace with fresh clothing. If professional medical help is available, wrap affected areas, keep warm and wait. If not proceed to step 3.
3. Submerge the affected areas in warm water. (100 - 105 F)Never use water above 108 F or this will damage tissue! Alternatively if warm water is not available compress the area with something warm such as a friends hand for ten to thirty minutes. This process should be repeated until the skin is soft and sensations return.
4.Take something to reduce the pain such as aspirin or ibuprofen. As the effected areas warm there will be some severe burning sensations, change of skin colour and maybe blistering/swelling.

5. Apply dry sterile dressing to areas and keep them as still as possible. Remember to dress fingers and toes individually.
6.Keep affected areas warm to avoid refreezing, also make sure that your whole body is warm and not just the frostbitten areas.
7.Seek professional medical attention.

Tips

* Individually wrap affected fingers/toes.
Never ski alone
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Never ski alone
* Use mittens instead of gloves.
* Use many thin layers rather than one or two thick ones.
* Always inform people of any activities you are undertaking.
* Be sure to wrap children up with extra layers and come inside every hour to warm up. This is because they are more susceptible to frostbite as they lose heat much faster than adults.
* Stay hydrated, dehydration leads to an increased chance of developing frostbite and hypothermia.
* Eat food, especially carbohydrates if available. Your body can easily turn carbs into heat.

Warnings

* Do not warm areas with direct heat such as fires (any kind) or hot water bottles.
* Do not warm affected areas that may re-freeze, this will only make matters worse.
* Do not try and warm frostbite by rubbing it.
* Numb hands will not feel how hot the water is, so be sure to let someone else check the temperature to avoid burns.
* Do not smoke or drink alcohol whilst recovering; they both interfere with blood circulation.
* If you are originally from a warm country e.g. Australia you will be at a greater risk than someone from a colder country e.g. Norway
* Avoid tight fitting clothes that may affect circulation.

Things You'll Need

* Warm water
* Blankets
* Dressing
* Pain relievers



HOPE THIS HELPS :)

Answer 4

According to a first aid book I have on this subject. Take of the victims shoes and socks. If they have any wet clothes on. Take the clothes off. Bring the person to a bathroom with a bathtub in it. Turn on the warm water. Make sure it's not boilong hot. And get the person to stick his feet in the tub. Either shower the feet with the shower head or fill up the tub with warm water and make sure the persons extremities are fully submerged in the water.
Take frequent body temperature readings to chck for progress (heating up). Or make the person sit close to a fireplace that's on. You can use a hair dryer to warm up the persons feet.

Answer 5

First you always want to keep them awake or else they can go into shock. If you can remove clothes on you and person (undies kept on) climb into sleeping bag together. The other person will benifit from your own body heat. Get the person to hospital!!

Answer 6

Slowly, repeat-slowly bring body temperature back up to normal.

Answer 7

you gotta get coats and warm him up