Extreme cold sweeping across Iowa brings with it a slew of winter hazards, even for people who venture outside for just a short amount of time. This includes everything from frostbite and hypothermia to slipping on ice.
Stuart Rescue Unit Paramedic Specialist Jeff Howard wants to make the public aware that when it comes to hypothermia, a body temperature reading at 95 degrees Fahrenheit or lower constitutes an emergency, and that person should seek medical treatment immediately.
Hypothermia doesn’t occur in a matter of minutes but slowly over several hours of exposure to cold. Wearing wet clothing or being immersed in cold water for any length of time heightens the risk. The possible result could be a coma or death.
Hypothermia can even occur indoors if you have a home that’s hard to heat.
Signs include violent shivering, slurred speech, slow pulse, loss of coordination, loss of bladder control, stiff muscles, a puffy face, and mental confusion.
Howard explains that shivering is the body’s attempt to get the muscles to cause more heat, to bring the body’s temperature back up along with your heartbeat and breathing rates. When your thinking gets cloudy and the heart begins to slow, hypothermia is not far away. The problem with hypothermia is that patients that are becoming hypothermic may not realize it Howard added. If you suspect hypothermia, call 911 immediately or get the person to an emergency room.
When you suspect hypothermia, Howard says to not warm the person too quickly, such as by immersing the person in warm water, as this may cause dangerous heart arrhythmias. The person’s trunk and abdomen should always be warmed first, not the hands and feet. This is important to mentioned because most people will try to warm hands and feet first and that can cause shock.
Half of cold-related injuries happen to people over 60 years old, so people should show special concern for older neighbors, friends and family members. They should look in on the elderly individual, make sure utilities are working and medical prescriptions are filled, and offer to pick up food or home supplies.
To avoid hypothermia, wear lots of layers of clothing. Cover your head, ears, nose and hands. Wear warm footwear. If you have a cold house, keep one room at seventy degrees. Sleep with extra blankets, a cap and socks.
Howard also urges the public to avoid alcohol. It’s a common misconception that alcohol helps keep you warm; on the contrary, it constricts blood vessels and it can make you more susceptible to the cold.