Acute hypothermia is caused by a rapid loss of body heat.
Early signs include:
Shivering
nonspecific disturbances of mental activity and judgment
Loss of fine motor coordination
"I don't care attitude" - flattened affect
Irrational behavior
First aid treatment:
Reduce Heat Loss
Additional layers of clothing
Dry clothing
Increased physical activity
Shelter
Add Fuel & Fluids
Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all.
avoid to rewarming the periphery (arms and legs) in the first step. Rewarm the core only
seek medical assistance
Frostbite
At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin -- frostbite may be beginning. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes.
Any of the following signs may indicate frostbite:
a white or grayish-yellow skin area
skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
numbnes
Signs of frostbite of:
1. degree
redness
pain or irritation in any skin area
Irritation
2. degree:
blistering and minor tissue loss
3. degree:
Numbnes, possible anesthesia
Black fingers and toes
Ulcer
Gangrene
Prevent heatloss by:
Loose clothing
No contact with cool metal
Use non-waterbased lotion for skincare
Do not smoke
Wind chill (se chart below)
The wind chill chart shows the difference between air temperature and perceived temperature and amount of time until frostbite occurs:
Windspeed /Temperature measured in Celsius degrees.
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