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Hypothermia
Unlike warmblooded animals that have a layer of hair or blubber to keep them warm, you need an extra layer of clothing to keep you warm when it's cold outside. Without that extra layer of clothing, more heat escapes from your body than your body can produce. If too much heat escapes, the result is hypothermia. Exposure to cold water and certain medical conditions also can cause hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when your body's control mechanisms fail to maintain a normal body temperature. Your normal core body temperature is usually right around 36.8 C. An internal body temperature of 36 C or lower signals hypothermia.
Signs and symptoms that may develop include gradual loss of mental and physical abilities. Severe hypothermia can lead to death. Hypothermia isn't a serious risk. Those at greatest risk are older adults, children, people who are mentally ill or have Alzheimer's disease and lose their judgment about when to seek shelter, and people who are intoxicated, homeless or caught in cold weather because their vehicle has broken down. Wearing protective clothing and taking other precautions can ensure that your body temperature doesn't drop to deadly levels. Paying attention to what may be early signs and symptoms of hypothermia also is important. Treatment Seek immediate medical attention for anyone who appears to be suffering from hypothermia. Until medical help is available, follow these guidelines for caring for someone with hypothermia. What to do
What not to do
What a doctor may do A doctor will be able to take steps to warm the body from the inside out, if necessary. One method may involve giving the person warm fluids intravenously. In severe cases of hypothermia, hemodialysis may restore normal body temperatures quickly. Hemodialysis is a medical procedure that removes extra fluid, chemicals and wastes from the blood by filtering the blood through an artificial kidney. It's often used in people with kidney failure. In a hypothermia situation, the blood is removed purely to warm it rapidly outside the body and then have it returned to the body. Hypothermia > 1 > 2 > 3 > 4
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