As Temperatures Fall Hypothermia Chances Rise

With temperatures dropping into the single digits one added concern for those who need to be outside is hypothermia.

It’s a condition you don’t think will happen to you, until it does. Beth Fineran a Nurse Practitioner at Muskingum Valley Health Center said she dealt with a case recently.

“I also work in the emergency department and a gentlemen had fallen outside, he wasn’t wearing any gloves and when he came to see us he has frost bite on all of his fingers and it had blistered. So it’s not something that is a safe condition it can be very serious. The longer you’re outside protected in the cold the more serious it can be for the patient,” said Fineran

There are preventative measures you can take to keep safe. For example, bundling up when you head outside. However, if you are on the verge of hypothermia there are some signs that you may need to head indoors.

“Patients can get chilling and shaking where they have riggers, they can have mental confusion where it gets worse and progresses, they can become unresponsive where they pass out. And they can have problems with their heart rhythm if their body gets cold enough,” stated Fineran.

According to Fineran the amount of time you can spend out in the cold before you develop hypothermia is dependent on your health and age. To best ensure your safety limit your time outdoors to no more than 3 to 5 minutes when temperatures are below freezing.