Hs and Ts

Hypothermia

Steven Rogers

Jun 18, 2015 • 1 min read

What is Hypothermia?

Hypothermia is when the body loses the ability to keep itself warm (occurs when body temperature drops below 95˙ F (35˙ C)). Defibrillation, CPR, or any drug therapy may prove to be ineffective for a hypothermic patient. Hence, the primary objective would be to warm the body.

What are the Potential Causes of Hypothermia?

• Extreme and/or prolonged exposure to cold weather and/or water

What are the Indicators of Hypothermia?

• History: Exposure
• ECG: Osborn "J" waves

What is the Treatment for Hypothermia?

• Applying active and passive warming measures to restore normal body temperature
• Initiate Basic Life Support measures while rewarming