Symptoms and Treatment of Hypothermia

The following describes what the symptoms of hypothermia are and how it can be treated.

Symptoms of Hypothermia

Uncontrolled shivering—usually the first obvious symptom, but ceases as hypothermia progresses
Slow, slurred speech
Memory loss
Irrational behavior, such as removing clothing
Lack of body movement
Sleepiness
Unconsciousness, which could lead to death

Find shelter for the victim.
Remove wet clothing, and replace with dry clothing and other protective covering. If there is no dry clothing, use a fire to dry one layer at a time.
Give warm liquids to rehydrate and rewarm, but never give the victim alcohol to drink. Quick-energy foods also produce inner body heat.
For mild cases, use fire, blankets, or another person’s body heat to warm the victim.
In more advanced stages, rewarm the victim slowly by placing one or more persons in body contact with the victim. Place canteens of hot water insulated with socks or towels on the groin, armpits, and sides of the neck of the victim.
A victim at or near unconsciousness must be handled gently and not immersed in a warm bath or exposed to a large fire, which can lead to traumatic shock or death. Immediately contact emergency medical personnel to evacuate the victim to a hospital for treatment.