Hypothermia Flashcards
What is hypothermia? (2)
It is a medical condition and that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce causing a dangerously low body temperature.
Hypothermia is a body temp below 35 degrees Celsius
What are the three types of hypothermia?
Acute, subacute and chronic hypothermia
What is acute hypothermia?
It is where the body suddenly starts to lose heat and gets worse quickly over a short period of time
What circumstances can cause a person to lose heat rapidly resulting to acute hypothermia? (2)
Falls into cold water - associated with near drowning
Snow avalanche - associated with asphyxia (body is deprived of oxygen causing inconspicuous or death)
What is acute hypothermia also known as?
Immersion hypothermia
What is subacute hypothermia?
Often occurs from exposure to cool weather outdoors, in combination with wind chill, wet or inadequate clothing, fatigue and/or inadequate nutrition
What is subacute hypothermia also known as?
Exhaustion hypothermia
Who are more likely to get subacute hypothermia?
Hill walker in cold and windy conditions because they become exhausted and cannot generate enough heat
What is chronic hypothermia?
This is where the body temperature drops over a period of time
What people are more at risk of getting chronic hypothermia? (4)
Elderly with inadequate heating
Patients who have been on the floor for long time
Those sleeping rough
Young children
How can you diagnose hypothermia? (2)
Tympanic thermometers may be used however it is not reliable in cold conditions because they are not we insulated
Patients should be suspected of having hypothermia based on risk factors, clinical history and the presence of concurrent injuries
What are some of the general risk factors to hypothermia? (8)
Older patients over the age of 80 due to impaired thermoregulation (as you age, the cells begin to die thus reducing metabolism rate)
Children as they are small and have a large surface area for heat loss
Some medical conditions like hypothyroidism and stroke
Intoxicated patients (alcohol dilates blood vessels leading to heat loss)
Near drowning or patients in exposed situations
Patients suffering from exhaustion
Injury and immobility
Decreased level of consciousness
What is the pathophysiology of hypothermia? (6)
Decreasing level of consciousness
Neurological dysfunction - slurred speech and lack of coordination
Bradypnoea
Bradycardia
Cardiac arrhythmias - bradycardia, AF, VF and asysyole
Cooling the body results in decreased oxygen consumption
Why should CPR not be ceased prehospitally for a patient with hypothermia?
Because successful outcomes have been achieved following prolonged resuscitative efforts in hypothermia victims
What is the temperature range for mild hypothermia?
35-32
