As winter settles in and the words “wind chill” become part of the daily weather forecast, an unseen danger lurks outdoors. It’s called hypothermia and it can kill.
Hypothermia is defined as a below normal body temperature (less than 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.) and occurs when the body loses too much heat. It happens mostly in cold weather, but can occur in milder temperatures if high winds or freezing rain are present and victims are inadequately dressed.
Kids need to be especially wary of hypothermia because they’re more at risk than most adults. Their heads are larger relative to their bodies (the head is a natural radiator) and they usually have less body fat and muscle (heat insulators).
So why is hypothermia so dangerous? What can be done to prevent it?
The key to understanding hypothermia is recognizing and respecting the life-sustaining value of body temperature. The body is like a high-performance auto engine in that it functions most efficiently at a certain temperature – in this case 98.6 degrees. A temperature drop of a few degrees will slow it down drastically, and at just 10 degrees below normal, it’s in danger of failing altogether.
The body’s primary way of losing heat is by radiating it off the skin. Hypothermia results when cold elements in the environment, like rain and wind, accelerate this process. Both water and wind produce more energy than radiation (now we’re talking physics) and so easily overwhelm the body’s heating system. Generally, the colder the wind or water, and the fewer the heat insulators – like clothing, fat and muscle – the faster the heat loss and the higher the risk of hypothermia.
So how do you prevent hypothermia? The best way is to protect your body from the elements and to stay out of weather “when the wind chill falls below freezing,” says Dr. Steven Lelyveld of Wyler Children’s Hospital in Chicago.
“Layer clothing,” Lelyveld emphasizes. “Wear lots of lightweight, loose layers with air in between because air is a great insulator from the cold and wind. Multiple layers are better than one thick garment.”
Lelyveld says to cover exposed areas – hands, head, feet, neck – with water-repellent fabrics that are “fluffy and trap air.” (Wool’s good.) The head and neck are especially vulnerable to heat loss because they have little fat and lots of heat-leaking blood vessels. For hands, mittens are better than gloves because keeping fingers snuggled together instead of separating them helps maintain body heat.
Because food and liquids help the body produce energy and heat, it helps to eat a good meal and have a hot drink like cocoa before heading outside, Lelyveld says.
Just remember to “think of cold weather activities like you do swimming,” he adds. “Do it with a friend. And use your head.”
What should you do if you fear that someone is suffering from hypothermia? Dr. Steven Lelyveld recommends the following:
If possible, get the victim out of the cold.
Gently remove clothing (cut away if necessary) and wrap the person in warm blankets.
Place frostbitten areas in warm, NOT hot water.
Get to a hospital emergency room.
If you can’t get to a hospital…
Apply heating pads or hot water bottles to the head, neck, chest and groin.
Don’t place victim in a hot bath!
Don’t message or rub the victim’s skin, especially with frostbite, because rubbing can rub skin off!
Dr. Lelyveld outlines the stages of hypothermia and what to watch for:
Mild hypothermia (body temperature 95 degrees): mild to severe shivering, numb hands, some lack of coordination.
Moderate hypothermia (91.4 degrees): violent shivering, sleepiness, confusion, extreme clumsiness, slurred speech.
Severe hypothermia (88 degrees): Shivering stops, breathing and heart rate slow, unconsciousness results. Death may occur at any time.
This grim fact will chill the soul: Many people don’t have a cozy home to tuck into when the weather turns bitterly cold.
But this will warm the heart: U.S. housing officials are trying to make it easier for the average Joe (that’s you and me) to help the homeless. Callers who see a homeless person can dial a toll-free number – 1-800-HUD-1010 – and hook up to a local social service agency. The agency is supposed to do two things: One, give that homeless person immediate help; and two, suggest how callers can help homeless people themselves, like donate to a local food bank or tutor homeless kids.
“Our message is simple,” says Andrew Cuomo, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Take 10 seconds to pick up the phone to bring homeless people immediate help, and then do more over 10 days or weeks or months to make a permanent difference.”
