How to Diagnose and Treat Hypothermia

Signs of the onset of hypothermia include feeling cold (in the hands and feet in particular), slurring speech, shivering and a loss of balance and coordination. The following steps can protect you from the serious situation of hypothermia.

Things You'll Need

• Hot Chocolates
• Hot Water Bottles
• Sleeping Bags
• Hot water bottles

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Instructions

• 1

  Understand that when serious hypothermia sets in, shivering stops because the victim can no longer get warm without help.

• 2

  Watch for signs of the victim becoming irrational and angry, no longer being able to stand, becoming listless or appearing to be dead.

• 3

  Find shelter and change into dry clothes to treat mild hypothermia.

• 4

  Get into a sleeping bag and drink hot and sweet drinks, avoiding coffee and tea (caffeine can make dehydration worse).

• 5

  Fill hot water bottles, wrap them in clothing and put them in the sleeping bag.

• 6

  Begin rescue breathing to treat serious hypothermia, and then find shelter and do everything as outlined above. Rewarming may take 24 hours or more.

• 7

  Zip together two or more sleeping bags and put warm, dry rescuers in the sleeping bag with the victim.

• 8

  Evacuate the victim by helicopter if possible.