Hypothermia occurs when the body is exposed to extreme cold; at the beginning your body tries to counter that effect both by reducing blood flow to the skin to preserve more heat and by making the muscles produce more heat through shivering. However, if the exposure to cold continues these mechanisms would not be enough and hypothermia develops. It is also dangerous as when hypothermia takes place the brain and other important organs slow down or “shut down” as a defense mechanism from the body to reduce heat use. However, this could be presented by confusion or loss of consciousness and hence one cannot help themselves by moving into a safer and warmer place. Hypothermia could develop in any of the following situations:
1. Severe cold exposure
2. Less could exposure but with more vulnerability: including infants or babies, older adults, people with certain diseases and people with less body fat
3. Some conditions like thyroid problems or diabetes, some medications, severe trauma, or using drugs or alcohol all increase the risk of hypothermia
4. People who are outdoors at extended times in cold weather
The symptoms of hypothermia include:
Hypothermia symptoms for adults include:
1. Shivering, which may stop as hypothermia progresses. (Shivering is actually a good sign that a person's heat regulation systems are still active. )
2. Slow, shallow breathing.
3. Confusion and memory loss.
4. Drowsiness or exhaustion.
5. Slurred or mumbled speech.
6. Loss of coordination, fumbling hands, stumbling steps.
7. A slow, weak pulse.
8. In severe hypothermia, a person may be unconscious without signs of breathing or a pulse.
Hypothermia symptoms for infants include:
1. Cold-to-touch, bright red skin
2. Unusually low energy
The treatment for hypothermia:
Hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening condition that needs emergency medical attention. If medical care isn't immediately available:
• Remove any wet clothes, hats, gloves, shoes, and socks.
• Protect the person against wind, drafts, and further heat loss with warm, dry clothes and blankets.
• Move gently to a warm, dry shelter as soon as possible.
• Begin re-warming the person with extra clothing. Use warm blankets. Other helpful items for warming are: an electric blanket to the torso area and hot packs and heating pad on the torso, armpits, neck, and groin; however, these can cause burns.
• Take the person's temperature if a thermometer is available.
• Offer warm liquids, but avoid alcohol and caffeine, which speed up heat loss.
• Don't try to give fluids to an unconscious person.
If the hypothermic person is unconscious, or has no pulse or signs of breathing, call for emergency help right away. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) should be given immediately. Because hypothermia causes the body to shut down in ways that mimic death, CPR should be continued, even in the absence of signs of breathing or a pulse, until paramedics arrive or the person is taken to a hospital.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-hypothermia
http://www.fsps.muni.cz/~tvodicka/data/reader/book-4/11.html
