Hypothermia

It has been stated that there is no longer any excuse for hypothermia deaths, yet nearly 700 people die of hypothermia in the U.S. every year.

Hypothermia occurs when the body drops below its normal temperature. Severe cold usually doesn’t cause hypothermia, but the combination of cold, wet and windy conditions does.
Employees working in these conditions who experience the symptoms of hypothermia, including intense shivering, muscle tension, fatigue and feelings of cold or numbness, should be treated promptly:

* Move the victim out of the cold.
* Remove victim’s wet clothing
* Insulate the victim’s body from the cold ground.
* Monitor breathing – begin CPR if breathing has stopped or appears dangerously low
* Provide warm beverages
* Do not apply direct heat or try to warm the arms and legs. Doing so forces cold air back to the heart, lungs and brain and causes the core body temperature to drop.