Caring for Hypothermia

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Sometimes, despite your best efforts to prevent hypothermia, symptoms can present themselves anyway, especially in small children.    Remember that hypothermia is a big deal – it’s a medical emergency that requires immediate attention by a medical professional.  Once you’ve identified hypothermia symptoms, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number and follow these steps immediately.

• Get out of the water and get to a warm place.
• Remove wet clothing.
• Gradually rewarm your body by wrapping yourself in blankets or putting on dry clothes.
• Cover your head to prevent further heat loss.
  • Be careful not to rewarm yourself too quickly.  Rapid rewarming can cause dangerous heart rhythms.
• Drink warm nonalcoholic and decaffeinated liquids.
• If you’re caring for someone else and they are unconscious, monitor their breathing and pulse.  Be prepared to give rescue breathing or CPR.

For more, read Basic Water Rescue, a booklet published by the American Red Cross.