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Hypothermia
"Know The Signs"
During the fall and winter months, Tennesseans all across the state will
take to the outdoors to enjoy their sport. Whether it's hunting,
fishing, birdwatching, or just hiking, fall and winter means the arrival
of colder temperatures which may lead Tennesseans to encounter a
condition that can have serious if not fatal results. This condition is
hypothermi.
Hypothermia is when the body loses heat faster than it produces it,
causing a lowering of the body's inner temperature. Hypothermia is
usually classified into two types: chronic and acute.
Chronic hypothermia occurs over a long period of time. It results
from exposure to wind and wetness combined with exhaustion. A victim of
hypothermia may become blue-gray in color. Violent shivering develops
which may give way to muscle spasms and even loss of use of the arms and
legs. Confusion and drunken behavior also may indicate a person could
be hypothermic.
To protect yourself from chronic hypothermia, avoid the conditions
that causes it. STAY WARM AND DRY. Put on rain gear before it rains.
Wear several different layers of clothes that can be added or removed as
the situation warrants. Wool clothing can help considerably because
wool traps body heat even when wet. Know the effects wind has on cold
weather. You may be in 40 degree weather with the sun shining, but a 10
mph wind lowers the temperature to 28 degrees and a 20 mph wind lowers
it to 18 degrees.
Acute hypothermia is the type waterfowl hunters and fishermen might
encounter. Acute hypothermia occurs when one falls into cold water.
Life expectancy is greatly reduced, but there are ways to increase the
chances of survival. When on the water, always wear a personal
flotation device (PFD) because it helps to insulate against heat loss.
Don't discard clothing, it helps to trap the body's heat. Try not to
thrash around it only leads to exhaustion and swirling water takes heat
from the body more rapidly than still water. To conserve heat a person
should draw their knees to their chest and wrap their arms around the
legs in what is called the self - huddle. If there is a group in the
water, huddling together with arms around each other's shoulders is the
best survival technique.
Treatment for hypothermia means getting heat back to the body and
raising the inner temperature. Get dry and warm as soon as you can.
When a fire can be built, start one right away. Stay by the fire until
someone comes for you or until you are thoroughly dry and know you can
reach shelter unassisted. Drinks lots of warm liquids. NEVER DRINK
ALCOHOL TO TREAT HYPOTHERMIA. The advanced stages of hypothermia are
very dangerous and treatment for these stages should be done only by
doctors.
TWRA recommends that all Tennesseans should take a first aid class
before going afield to learn how to take care of the first stages of
hypothermia and other life threatening situations. Hypothermia is a
killer, but it can be prevented if you know its causes and use your head
to avoid them.
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