An aerial photo of a snowy, misty forest

Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when core body temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius. This occurs when the body’s ability to generate heat by burning calories, muscle exertion and shivering is overwhelmed by heat loss. Heat is lost in four ways; radiation to a cold environment, conduction through contact with cold surfaces, convection from wind and water currents and evaporation of moisture. Improperly prepared or injured backcountry travellers can become hypothermic even in summer months.

How to recognize Hypothermia

Hypothermia can be separated into three categories: Mild, Moderate, and Severe:

A man suffering from mild hypothermia. artwork adapted from Taylor's project 1 infographic

Mild Hypothermia

  • Bouts of shivering
  • Grogginess, poor judgment, muddled thinking, and abnormal behaviour
  • Normal breathing and pulse
A man suffering from moderate hypothermia. artwork adapted from Taylor's project 1 infographic

Moderate Hypothermia

  • Violent shivering, or shivering has stopped altogether
  • Inability to think and pay attention
  • Slow, shallow breathing, slurred speech, or poor body coordination
  • Slow, weak pulse
A man suffering from severe hypothermia. artwork adapted from Taylor's project 1 infographic

Severe Hypothermia

  • Shivering stopped
  • Unconsciousness
  • Little or no breathing
  • Weak, irregular, or non-existent pulse
  • Dilated (wide open) pupils, so that the victim may appear dead but is still alive

Hypothermia First Aid

General First Aid:

Victims of mild hypothermia have mild symptoms. They are still conscious.

  • Remove wet clothing and get the victim into warm, dry clothes.
  • Wrap the victim in warm blankets — make sure the victim’s head is covered.
  • Place something warm and dry under the victim, and move the victim to a warm environment.
  • Handle the victim gently and minimize his or her exertion.
  • Do not suppress shivering, even if violent. Shivering is the most effective way to generate body heat.

A person with hypothermia in blankets, drawn by Taylor
An ambulance, drawn by Taylor

For Moderate/Severe Hypothermia:

Victims of moderate to severe hypothermia have an altered level of consciousness and fluctuating changes to their heart and respiratory rate. They may be shivering and their core body temperature is usually below 33˚C.

  • Handle the victim gently. Rough handling can cause heartbeat irregularities and death.
  • Check for airway obstructions and breathing or circulation problems and take appropriate action if there are any abnormalities in these areas. Initiate CPR only if there is no pulse present after a full one-minute assessment.
  • If CPR is necessary, assist breathing at 10 to 12 breaths per minute. Do not start cardiac massage unless it can be continued effectively without a break. It is more dangerous to start, stop, and re-start CPR rather than to wait until proper care is available.
  • Do not give anything by mouth because of the high risk of vomiting.
  • If available, heated, humidified air or oxygen should be administered.
  • Continue first aid treatment even if the victim appears lifeless. The body can sometimes survive for hours without signs of life at very low body temperatures.
  • Know how to assess hypothermia and give help when it is needed, even if the victim resists help. The victim may be confused and unaware of what is happening and may deny assistance when it is needed.
  • Arrange rapid transport to the nearest medical facility.

Tips to prevent hypothermia

A photo of a hat, jacket, and gloves, drawn by Taylor

Wear warm clothing

Your clothing is a vital component of your shelter. You need layers of warm clothing, even if you’ll be wearing an immersion suit. Fabrics like wool or polypropylene are far superior to cotton because they do not absorb water. Wear a watch cap to protect your head. If you enter the water without an immersion suit, the cold shock can be disabling. Extra clothing and a waterproof outer layer, such as foul-weather gear, will reduce the immediate shock. Extra clothing will prolong your survival time by reducing the heat loss.

A water bottle and juice, drawn by Taylor

Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids

Doing this will help prevent dehydration and exhaustion, which can lead to hypothermia. Heated drinks can be helpful, but limit your intake of coffee and tea.

A photo of a bench, drawn by Taylor

Take regular breaks from rigorous activity

Take regular breaks to get away from the cold environment. Don’t let yourself become weakened through fatigue. People who are fit are less prone to hypothermia. Stay fit through physical conditioning.

Learn More

A photo of a mountain range

Avalanches can happen whenever there is snow lying on the ground at a sufficient angle. Every year there are avalanche accidents in the Scottish hills. While there is always an avalanche risk in winter, some of these accidents could have been avoided by awareness and planning.

Avalanche Safety: How to recognize and prepare for an avalanche
A photo of a pine forest path

Travelling through a hiking trail provides visitors and travellers with a safe way to enjoy the vast mountain range and beautiful forests without worrying about getting lost. However, certain circumstances may prevent hikers from losing track of the trail and finding themselves lost in the mountains. It may be important to prepare to survive the night in the mountains if this is the case.

Mountain Safety: How to survive in the mountains