Hypothermia
An Article by Worsley Training – First Aid Training in and around Wiltshire
In this cold weather look out for the signs and symptoms of hypothermia, easily remembered as the Umbles:
- Grumbles – change in behaviour, expressing a negative attitude
- Fumbles – slow reaction time, dropping objects, poor co-ordination
- Mumbles – slurred, slowed, or incoherent speech, sleepiness or confusion
- Stumbles – loss of control over movement, slowed motion, stiffness in extremities
- Tumbles – falls unconscious
Treatment:
- Provide shelter, ideally get them indoors, but certainly out of the wind
- Remove and replace any wet clothing and make sure their head is covered
- Protect them from the ground, ideally on a mat, otherwise just on a layer of bracken / branches
- Prevent further heat loss, wrapping them in a foil blanket / towel
- Give high energy food and warm drinks (no alcohol) if fully awake
- Stay with them and monitor their breathing and level of consciousness until help arrives
Do not:
- Give them your clothes or put someone else in a sleeping bag with them, as then you end up with 2 hypothermic casualties. You can use your own body to shelter them and keep them warm.
- Place them into a hot bath / sauna / extremely heated vehicle, as that may cause rewarming shock
- Rub their arms, legs, feet or hands to warm them as it may cause damage
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