With winter right around the corner, it’s important for residents and visitors entering chilly climates to understand the dangers of hypothermia. When exposed to excessive cold, your body temperature can drop incredibly low, resulting in the need to see a doctor for aggressive treatment. To ensure you’re prepared for winter, here’s what you should know about hypothermia. 

Understanding Hypothermia Protection

How Can You Prevent Hypothermia?

The best way to prevent abnormally low body temperature is to avoid harsh, cold weather conditions and keep emergency kits in your home and vehicle. If there’s a winter storm, stay indoors as much as possible, and make sure you have access to blankets, warm clothing, and a heating source such as a central air heating system, a fire, heating pads, or space heaters. If you have to go outdoors in cold temperatures, dress appropriately in a winter hat, a scarf or mask that covers your face, insulated and water-resistant jackets, gloves, pants, boots, and multiple loose layers of clothing.

Remember, your nose, toes, cheeks, fingers, ears, and chin are most susceptible to frostbite, so keep them covered. Senior citizens, babies, and individuals who stay outdoors for extended periods of time are more likely to suffer from hypothermia, so look after these loved ones during extreme conditions. 

How Does a Doctor Treat Hypothermia?

As hypothermia sets in, an individual will start shivering. If they remain in cold, wet conditions, this can transition into slurred speech, lack of coordination, low energy, confusion, shallow breathing, and eventually unconsciousness. Should you or a loved one show any of the signs above, call a doctor right away. In the meantime, gently move the person suffering into a warmer environment. Remove any wet clothing and try to warm them with blankets, hot beverages, and warm compresses. Once in the hands of a doctor, a patient with hypothermia will be covered in heating blankets and provided with warm fluids. Other treatment options include blood rewarming and warm intravenous fluids. 

Patients First Medical Clinic is a full-service urgent care and family practice based in the heart of Anchorage, AK. With a compassionate team of doctors that have over 150 years of combined experience in the healthcare field, you can trust this facility to provide hands-on, quality care that’s affordable and reliable. To schedule an appointment, call today at (907) 333-7425. For more information on the services they provide and the wide range of ailments they treat, visit their website.