How are cold related emergencies treated?

How are cold related emergencies treated?

Seek emergency medical care

1. Gently move the person out of the cold.
2. Gently remove wet clothing.
3. If further warming is needed, do so gradually.
4. Offer the person warm, sweet, nonalcoholic drinks.
5. Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of life, such as breathing, coughing or movement.

What is the best treatment for a hypothermic victim?

Treatment

• Move the person out of the cold.
• Remove wet clothing.
• Cover the person with blankets.
• Insulate the person’s body from the cold ground.
• Monitor breathing.
• Provide warm beverages.
• Use warm, dry compresses.
• Don’t apply direct heat. Don’t use hot water, a heating pad or a heating lamp to warm the person.

What is the proper treatment for a person exposed to extreme cold temperatures?

Stay calm, find shelter, change to dry clothes, keep moving, and drink warm fluids to prevent further heat loss and slowly rewarm yourself. If small areas of your body (ears, face, nose, fingers, toes) are really cold or frozen, try home treatment first aid to warm these areas and prevent further injury to skin.

How are cold weather injuries treated?

Elevate affected limbs and cover with layers of loose, warm, dry clothing. Do not pop blisters, apply lotions or creams, massage, expose to extreme heat or permit Soldiers to walk, which can increase tissue damage and worsen the injury. Evacuate for medical treatment.

How do you prevent cold emergencies?

Prevention

1. Cover your head and trunk by wearing a hat and layers of tightly woven fabrics such as wool or synthetics.
2. Cover up exposed areas such as your fingers, cheeks, ears, and nose.
3. If your clothes get wet when you are in the cold, change into dry clothes as soon as possible.

What are 2 cold-related emergencies?

Frostbite and hypothermia are two types of cold-related emergencies.

How do you treat hyperthermia?

Additional tips for treating mild to moderate hyperthermia include:

1. sipping cool water or an electrolyte drink.
2. loosening or removing excess clothing.
3. lying down and trying to relax.
4. taking a cool bath or shower.
5. placing a cool, wet cloth on the forehead.
6. running the wrists under cool water for 60 seconds.

What is the recommended first aid treatment for hypothermia?

First aid for hypothermia: Cover the person completely with foil or a space blanket, or use your own body heat to help warm him/her. Use warm compresses on the neck, chest, and groin. Give warm, sweet fluids. (Any fluids given should be nonalcoholic, as alcohol interferes with the blood’s circulation.)

What is the recommended treatment for hypothermia boating?

Give warm liquids to rehydrate and rewarm, but never give the victim alcohol to drink. Give high-calorie foods, such as chocolate, peanuts, or raisins, which provide quick energy that helps your body produce heat. For mild cases, use fire, blankets, or another person’s body heat to warm the victim.

What is the most appropriate care for a person with a cold injury?

Place the affected part it in warm water at 98-102°F (37-39°C). Use water that feels warm but comfortable on unaffected skin. Body heat. Hold the affected part under an armpit or in a warm hand.

What is a cold weather injury?

Cold injuries are divided into freezing and nonfreezing injuries (occur with ambient temperature above freezing). They include hypothermia, frostnip, chilblains, immersion foot and frostbite. Exposure to cold can induce Raynaud’s disease, Raynaud’s phenomenon and allergic reactions to cold.

What are the preventive measures to prevent hypothermia?

How to prevent hypothermia

1. Wear warm, multi-layered clothing with good hand and feet protection (avoid overly constricting wrist bands, socks, and shoes).
2. Wear warm headgear.
3. If possible, change into dry clothes whenever clothing becomes wet.
4. Find appropriate shelter to stay warm.

What to do if you have hypothermia in the winter?

If warm water is not available, warm the affected area using body heat. For example, you can use the heat of an armpit to warm frostbitten fingers. Do not use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can easily burn.

What to do if you get frostbite in cold weather?

Frostbite should be checked by a health care provider. And remember, Hypothermia is a medical emergency and immediate medical care is necessary. Be prepared. Taking a first aid or emergency resuscitation (CPR) course is a good way to prepare for health problems related to cold weather.

Who is most at risk for hypothermia in cold weather?

While hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water. Who’s most at risk? People who remain outdoors for long periods—the homeless, hikers, hunters, etc. People who drink alcohol or use illicit drugs.

Which is the best defense against cold weather?

Being prepared is your best defense against having to deal with extremely cold weather. By preparing your home and car ahead of winter storms or other winter emergencies, and by taking safety precautions during extremely cold weather, you can reduce your risk of developing health problems related to cold weather.