2. Water & Ice Safety
Part 3: Hypothermia
www.discover.edventures.com
www.heirborne.yolasite.com
3. What is Hypothermia?
• Hypothermia is the lowering of the body’s
core temperatute from its normal
temperature of 37o Celsius.
• Hypothermia begins when the body’s core
temperature falls below 35o Celsius
• Severe hypothermia occurs when the body’s
core temperature falls below 32o Celsius.
www.hypothermia.org
4. How is Hypothermia Caused?
• Caused by exposure to cool and cold
temperatures (air or water)
• It can be a gradual process (extended time
outdoors in cool/cold weather/water) where
the body suffers a net loss of heat over time.
• It can also be a rapid process if the body is
exposed to very cold weather/water and a
rapid net loss of heat occurs. (i.e. falling into
cold water)
www.hypothermia.org
5. Impacts of Hypothermia
Water temp. (F) Celsius (C)
Exhaustion or
unconsciousness
Estimated
survival time:
32 F 0 C
Less than 15
minutes
15-45 minutes
32-40 F 0-5 C 15-30 minutes 30-90 minutes
40-50 F 5-10 C 30-60 1-3 hrs.
50-60 F 10-16 C 1-2 hours 1-6 hours
60-70 F 16-21 C 2-7 hours 2-40 hours
70-80 F 21-27 C 3-12 hours 3 hours up
More than 80 F More than 27 C Indefinitely Indefinitely
http://boating.ncf.ca/hypothermia.html
6. Symptoms of Hypothermia
• Shivering
• Slowing mental activity and
confusion (slurred speech,
staggering walk, not
responsive to verbal stimuli)
• Cold skin
• Numbness in arms and legs,
loss of feeling in fingers, loss
of fine motor skills
• Reduced metabolic rate
• Low internal body
temperature
• Slowing breathing rate
• Slowing heart rate (pulse
rate)
• Unconsciousness
www.hypothermia.org
www.firstaidforeveryone.ie
7. Treating Hypothermia
• Get the person out of
danger (out of water)
and into shelter
• Keep patient as
horizontal as possible
(helps with blood flow)
• Check the ABCs (Airway,
Breathing, Circulation)
• Note mental status of
victim
www.hypothermia.org
If you are unable to get out of the water, you
can slow the onset of hypothermia by
following the steps in the diagram.
www.pineypaddlers.com/MCC-Global/safety/off-season-safety.htm
8. Treating Hypothermia
• Insulate the patient from
further heat loss. Gently
wrap them in warming
blankets, sleeping bags
etc. and especially
insulate their heads
• Add heat (goal is to
stabilize core temperature
of the patient)
• Use a lukewarm bath (not
hot) and give the patient
warm beverages
www.hypothermia.org
www.ehow.com/how_2053355_treat-hypothermia.html
www.dmcsales.net/index-21.html
www.greenmanbushcraft.co.uk/first-aid/foil-hypothermia-blanket.htm
9. Treating Hypothermia
• Apply external heat (hot
packs, hot water bottles) to
the head, neck, trunk and
groin. Do not apply heat
directly to skin.
• In an emergency situation
far from medical help, use
your body heat by wrapping
yourself with the patient in
a blanket or sleeping bag.
• NEVER give a patient
alcohol as this can actually
lower the core body
temperature of the patient
www.hypothermia.org
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www.princeton.edu
