Hypothermia is defined as having a body temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Moderate hypothermia means that a person’s core body temperature ranges from 82 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which can lead to some severe health effects.
Doctors can use several methods to treat moderate hypothermia, including:
While it is crucial to raise a person’s body temperature back to safe levels when hypothermia occurs, rewarming carries a risk of shock. In this case, cardioactive inotropic medication may be used to prevent the drastic decrease in blood pressure that can occur when a person experiences rewarming shock.
Hypothermia can cause shallow breathing, disorientation, and loss of consciousness. Without treatment, a person is at risk of experiencing severe effects, including frostbite and even gangrene if blood flow is blocked by decaying tissues.
Moderate hypothermia can be life-threatening, so do not delay in calling for help. If you are caring for a person with suspected hypothermia, here are some first aid tips to perform before help arrives:
With treatment, it is possible to recover from moderate bouts of hypothermia. However, time is of the essence to avoid more serious health effects.