Hypothermia

What is it?

Hypothermia is a condition caused by the core temperature dropping. It is seen in different levels of severity:

• Mild

Shivering, but can't be controlled voluntarily
More difficult tasks become impossible, but can still do simple tasks
Hands/feet get cold


• Moderate

Simple tasks become very hard.
Shivering increases
Attention decreases "I don't care" attitude
Speech slurs
Irrational behaviour


• severe (immediately life threatening)

Shivering comes and goes in waves
Skin goes pale
Pupils dilate
Person curls up into fetal position
Pulse rate decreases

Prevention

In this case, prevention is definitely better than cure. Staying warm is very important when in contact with water. If you are wearing a wetsuit then your risk of hypothermia is reduced. One way of preventing this condition is to keep an eye on each other, as it is often easier to spot in others before noticing it in yourself. The key points to look for are the "umbles". Grumbles, mumbles, fumbles and stumbles.

Treatment

Obviously, for severe hypothermia, medical attention is required extremely quickly

Further information

Wikipedia article

Outdoor action - excellent site

Hypothermia information for street activists

Description of someone going through hypothermia

Links

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