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Normal body temperature should be around 37 degrees Celsius. When your body temperature drops below what it should be, you can say that you are experiencing hypothermia. It cannot be taken lightly, hypothermia must be treated as soon as possible to prevent more body heat from being lost. Here's how to deal with hypothermia that can be done.
How to treat hypothermia in cold weather?
Hypothermic conditions can occur anywhere, especially in cold places such as mountains and snowy areas. If not given proper treatment immediately, hypothermia can quickly attack the function of the heart, lungs and other organs of the body until finally fatal.
So, to prevent hypothermia from getting worse, you can provide help in the following ways:
1. First aid
Regardless of the underlying cause of hypothermia, it is important to provide first aid before the patient gets medical help.
- Move it to another place that is warmer and dry. If this is not possible, it is best to protect hypothermic persons from exposure to wind and worse cold temperatures.
- Remove all wet clothing that the sufferer may be wearing.
- Give warmth by covering the person's entire body using a thick blanket, thick layers of clothing, sleeping bags, or any object that can be warm. Don't forget to lay their bodies on a thick blanket or other bedding that can provide warmth.
- You can use a warm compress, but avoid applying it to the arms and legs. This method of dealing with hypothermia will actually make your core body temperature decrease. Instead, apply a warm compress to the neck or groin area where there are major arteries.
- Do not apply hot materials directly to skin, such as hot water or heat lamps, without going through an intermediary. Apart from damaging the skin, high heat can mess up your heart rate.
- If the hypothermic person is conscious, warm drinks can be given.
- Always monitor his breathing and heart rate.
2. Medical care
Medically treating hypothermia is generally aimed at returning body temperature to normal.
- Apply CPR (cardiac resuscitation) technique if breathing suddenly stops.
- Simple external heating. By giving additional warm clothes or removing the patient's clothes, then changing them to other clothes that are warmer.
- External warming is active. By using a heating device, for example a warm bottle or mask that contains warm air, so that body temperature can increase again.
- Internal heating. By giving intravenous fluids (infusion) into the body, including the chest and stomach, to help provide a feeling of warmth to the body.
