Accidental hypothermia also can affect an elderly or very young person wearing inadequate clothing in cold conditions or living in an unheated room, especially when malnutrition is present.
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First Aid For Cold illness Hypothermia - WHS First Aid Kits
1. FIRST AID FOR COLD ILLNESS / HYPOTHERMIA
Hypothermia is a serious medical condition that occurs following exposure to extreme cold.
Exposure to cold conditions can be made more serious if the victim’s clothes are wet,
especially in a cold wind. In serious hypothermia, as internal organs cool, the victim’s level of
consciousness will deteriorate and, unless prompt medical care is available, death may occur.
Accidental hypothermia also can affect an elderly or very young person wearing inadequate
clothing in cold conditions or living in an unheated room, especially when malnutrition is
present.
Frostbite occurs when one part of the body is exposed to extreme cold and usually involves
an extremity. Most commonly this affects the fingers or toes, but frostbite may involve the
nose or ears if the head is uncovered in freezing conditions.
Step by step First Aid Procedure :
Step: 1
Shelter the victim
• Either find a solid shelter nearby or improvise a windbreak and rain protection.
• If the shelter is adequate, assist the victim to remove all wet and cold clothing and
replace with dry articles.
• If no shelter is available, wrap warm clothing or a blanket around the victim over the wet
clothes.
Note: Do not remove cold, wet clothing in exposed conditions because this may cause a
further drop in body temperature.
Step: 2
Rewarm the victim
• Help the victim to rest lying down in a sleeping bag if available.
• Ensure that there is protection underneath the body to avoid losing more body heat into the
ground.
2. • Cover the victim with a blanket, dry clothing or an aluminum foil rescue blanket, to
maintain body heat.
• Give a warm drink.
Note:
• Avoid hot drinks or alcohol because this will divert blood to the stomach and away from
the cold body parts.
• Do not use direct heat or massage to rewarm the victim, e.g. a camp fire, blow heater or hot
packs, because these will take heat to the skin surface and away from the cold body organs.
Follow the next steps from our first aid hand book visit us at
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