5.1 Mild Hypothermia As the medic offshore you should prevent further heat loss. Keep the casualty horizontal at all times, and raise the legs as you would for shock. Remove all wet clothing and pat the skin dry, taking great care as cold skin is easily damaged. Remember the effects of wind chill, especially on someone who is still soaked. A foil blanket only prevents heat loss; it will not warm the injured person up. Once the casualty is dry and in warm clothing and blankets it will then be a useful idea to cover these in a foil blanket to prevent heat escaping. As soon as possible start warming from the inside by giving hot drinks. Remember the use of a bath for re-warming patients is no longer accepted practice. Rapid re warming has been associated with Cardiac Arrhythmias. 5.2 Moderate Hypothermia Once again it is important to remove wet clothing and cover the patient with blankets. You can apply mild heat to the head, neck, chest, armpits, and groin using wrapped thermal pads, hot water bottles or warm towels. Give warm sweetened drinks if the patient is conscious and able to swallow. 5.3 Severe Hypothermia Remove injured person/crewmember from the cold and wet environment and use whatever means are available to reduce a further drop in temperature. Remove wet clothing Replace with dry clothing and or blankets Use the rescuers body heat - skin to skin is the best contact. (There are some who would argue this practice is not a good idea if the person doing the warming is the medic or only other person to hand as they might put themselves at risk.) There is also a gender issue. Use exhaled warm air near the patients nose and mouth Avoid active external warming to prevent metabolic release Remember to avoid unnecessary movement to reduce the risk of precipitating cardiac arrhythmia. Only commence CPR if the patient is in full cardiac arrest and has no evidence of a carotid pulse after a two minute check. Baseline measurements of rectal temperature, pulse and blood pressure are essential as soon as possible. “It may be difficult to detect a pulse as extreme Bradycardia could be present in these circumstances. A pulse should be felt for a full two minutes at least, before deciding it is absent.
5.1 Mild Hypothermia As the medic offshore you should prevent further heat loss. Keep the casualty horizontal at all times, and raise the legs as you would for shock. Remove all wet clothing and pat the skin dry, taking great care as cold skin is easily damaged. Remember the effects of wind chill, especially on someone who is still soaked. A foil blanket only prevents heat loss; it will not warm the injured person up. Once the casualty is dry and in warm clothing and blankets it will then be a useful idea to cover these in a foil blanket to prevent heat escaping. As soon as possible start warming from the inside by giving hot drinks. Remember the use of a bath for re-warming patients is no longer accepted practice. Rapid re warming has been associated with Cardiac Arrhythmias. 5.2 Moderate Hypothermia Once again it is important to remove wet clothing and cover the patient with blankets. You can apply mild heat to the head, neck, chest, armpits, and groin using wrapped thermal pads, hot water bottles or warm towels. Give warm sweetened drinks if the patient is conscious and able to swallow. 5.3 Severe Hypothermia Remove injured person/crewmember from the cold and wet environment and use whatever means are available to reduce a further drop in temperature. Remove wet clothing Replace with dry clothing and or blankets Use the rescuers body heat - skin to skin is the best contact. (There are some who would argue this practice is not a good idea if the person doing the warming is the medic or only other person to hand as they might put themselves at risk.) There is also a gender issue. Use exhaled warm air near the patients nose and mouth Avoid active external warming to prevent metabolic release Remember to avoid unnecessary movement to reduce the risk of precipitating cardiac arrhythmia. Only commence CPR if the patient is in full cardiac arrest and has no evidence of a carotid pulse after a two minute check. Baseline measurements of rectal temperature, pulse and blood pressure are essential as soon as possible. “It may be difficult to detect a pulse as extreme Bradycardia could be present in these circumstances. A pulse should be felt for a full two minutes at least, before deciding it is absent.
3-DDRC-Cold-Water-Immersion-v1.docx