Management of hypothermia
Principles include:
- early recognition
- concentrate on restoring normothermia
- cold heart irritable; move patient gently, avoid unnecessary manipulation or procedures
- severely hypothermic heart may be unresponsive to drugs, pacing or defibrillation
Keep going: "They're not dead until they're warm in bed"
- minimise further heat loss
- remove wet garments
- use blankets
- use warm rescuer to lie next to victim
- warm humidified oxygen
- transport cautiously and gently
Reference
- Dow J, Giesbrecht GG, Danzl DF, et al. Wilderness Medical Society clinical practice guidelines for the out-of-hospital evaluation and treatment of accidental hypothermia: 2019 update. Wilderness Environ Med. 2019 Dec;30(4 Suppl):S47-69.
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