Hypothermia

A fall in body temperature to below 35°C. Most cases occur in sick, elderly people exposed to low temperatures. The body loses its sensitivity to cold as it ages, becoming less able to reverse a fall in temperature. Babies also have an increased risk of hypothermia because they lose heat rapidly and cannot easily reverse a fall in temperature. A person suffering from hypothermia is usually pale and listless. The heartrate is slow, the body is cold, and the victim is often drowsy and confused. In severe hypothermia, breathing becomes slow and shallow, the muscles are stiff, the victim may become unconscious, and the heart may stop beating. Hypothermia is a medical emergency. Treatment varies according to the age of the victim. A young person may be placed in a warm bath. An elderly victim is usually warmed gradually by being covered with layers of heat-reflecting material in a room temperature of 25°C. When hypothermia is life-threatening, victims may be admitted to an intensive care unit for controlled warming. This may be done by withdrawing blood from the circulation, warming it, and returning it to the body.