Re: Hypothermia

On Sat, 30 Mar 1996, Amick Robert wrote:

> Re: Lisa's comments on treatment for hypothermia, we have found that
> mild cases respond well to getting in a warm shower or tub, and also
> drinking warmed "gatorade" (or other equivalent "sports" drink. This
> seems to help the muscles restore the homeostasis by improving
> fluid volume and electrolyte balance in the circulatory system; and
> by providing an easily absorbed supply of glucose
> which is directly metabolized by the muscle tissue.
Getting into warm shower or tub???? Very dangerous....Maybe in
extremely mild cases. Here is what I think is true (notice I am not
claiming to be an AUTHORITY or EXPERT because I am not, just training
through Red Cross and scouts, and through the Borough I live in...): in
many cases when the victim is in the stages of hypothermia where they are
tired and such, often it is no longer restricted to hypothermia, but
their bodies are in shock, which happens in most cases of hypothermia.
Needless to say that to start with, the core temperature lowering is not
good to begin with plus the additional factor of being in shock is why
hypothermia is so deadly. Putting the victim in a warm shower or bath
many times just adds to the shock because it is such a dramatic, warm
change. I unfortunately have had friends who have fallen through
overflow on rivers, and the people with them not properly estimating the
seriousness of the hypothermia, and taking them home for a warm shower
(and I mean warm where the water was not the human preferred temperature
of 95*f to 100*f, rather lower) and it caused a heart attack. I know of
three such incidents right here in my community. Note that in two of
three cases, they had fallen through the ice...one had even tried to save
his snowmachine. Fortunately, they closed the section of the river by
the powerplant where they dump hot water into the river through the
downtown, so this hasn't happened.

As far as gatorade, I understand the logic but tend to believe
that it is just the warm liquid. The hot gatorade could just as well be
hot tang, in my opinion. Note that you wouldn't want hot cocoa because
caffeine....

> It is seldom advantageous just to get in a "warm bed" because the body
> needs to generate the heat needed to maintain warmth, and the insulation
> afforded by a bed does not really contribute much
> when heat is not being adequately generated by the body. Although if an
> electric blanket or heat pad were used as an external heat source, that
> might be of assistance.
Exactly-an external source is needed. If the case is not very
serious, they could be even kept in a warm cabin where the fire was
going well and warm in the cabin, put them in the loft (the warmest
section). If any case of shock is suspected, have the victim and another
person strip down to underwear and get in a sleeping bag to use the other
person as a heat source. Be sure to get the victim to medical attention
in more extreme cases such as these. Also be sure the rescuer/heat
source is big enough to provide heat for the victim.

Hypothermia is no joke and should be taken seriously. Many times, if
your scouts have training in treating and recognising hypothermia, and
the science behind it will enable them to recognise the preliminary
stages of hypothermia and/or situations that could lead to such (I first
realized my coat was too small when my lower back always got cold and my
rear got cold...I got a bigger parka and was fine, but for that time I
was on the trail, I told the person when I realized I was cold there.
Don't deny it when it happens!). Also, they will tend to be more
cooperative if someone else recognises signs of hypothermia in them and
will know what is going on.

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