When a person’s body temperature drop below 35°C they start to experience the symptoms of hypothermia.

It is usually cold by prolonged exposure to cold such as being outdoors without appropriate clothing, sitting still in a poorly heated room, inactivity in cold water or exposure to rain and wind.

To try and warm the body, a person will shiver. If someone stops shivering this is a sign of severe hypothermia and needs urgent medical assistance.

Signs of mild hypothermia are:

• Shivering
• Feeling cold
• Low energy
• Cold, pale skin

Moderate hypothermia includes:

• Violent, uncontrollable shivering
• Being unable to think or pay attention
• Feeling confused
• Lack of reasoning and judgement
• Difficulty in moving (stumbling)
• Feeling afraid
• Memory loss
• Fumbling hands and loss of coordination
• Drowsiness
• Slurred speech
• Slow, shallow breathing with a weak pulse

Severe hypothermia includes:

• Stop shivering
• Uncontrollable limbs
• Stiff muscles
• Dilated pupils
• Unresponsiveness
• Shallow or no breathing

TREATMENT

For mild or moderate hypothermia:

• Move the casualty indoors if possible
• Remove any wet clothing and dry them
• Wrap them in blankets, towels (whatever you have)

For severe hypothermia:

• Call 999/112 immediately.
• Handle the casualty very gently and keep them as still as possible.
• Move them indoors or to shelter if safe to do so.
• Remove wet clothing carefully and replace with dry clothing.
• Wrap them in blankets, a sleeping bag, or layers (including head and torso).
• Use insulation underneath as well as on top (e.g. blankets, coats, sleeping mat).
• Give warmth externally (warm packs or bottles wrapped in cloth, placed in armpits, chest, or groin).
• Do not give them food, drink, or try to warm them too quickly (e.g. hot bath, direct heat) — this can cause dangerous heart arrhythmias.
• If they are unconscious but breathing, place them in the recovery position and continue to monitor breathing.
• If they stop breathing, start CPR.