With the New Year holiday approaching, many people who enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and picnics will plan trips during this period. However, in the past, there have been multiple incidents where outdoor enthusiasts encountered danger, leading to tragic outcomes. Experts remind everyone that in cold winter weather, outdoor activities carry the risk of hypothermia, and it's important to understand some first aid knowledge to avoid dangers.
Severe hypothermia can lead to death
Hypothermia, medically speaking, refers to the condition where a person is exposed to a cold environment for an extended period, loses too much body heat, and experiences a gradual drop in body temperature, leading to weakened physiological functions. In severe cases, it may result in death. The danger of low body temperature is quite straightforward — death due to low body temperature is what people commonly refer to as freezing to death.
Experienced individuals know that what is commonly referred to as “shivering” is actually a mild form of hypothermia. As hypothermia worsens, the body will stop shivering. Wearing wet clothes or being exposed to cold winds significantly increases the risk of excessive body temperature drop.
Hypothermia does not only occur during mountaineering; it can also happen during any outdoor snow or ice activity. Meanwhile, low body temperature is also the number one killer of people who fall into water. There are many causes of hypothermia. For example, at high altitudes, above the snow line where oxygen levels are low, the normal metabolism of climbers is affected. If one is exposed to low temperatures, strong winds, and oxygen-deficient environments for an extended period without proper insulation, hypothermia can easily occur.
When the body temperature drops below 35°C, a person has entered a state of hypothermia. The direct consequences of hypothermia include endocrine disorders, hallucinations, loss of consciousness, and ultimately death. Even if life is saved through emergency treatment, there may be lasting aftereffects.
Avoid getting completely wet during outdoor activities
During outdoor activities, in addition to choosing appropriate cold-weather clothing, having knowledge of scientific prevention and self-protection measures is crucial for preventing hypothermia.
The normal human body temperature is between 35.8°C and 37.8°C, generally reaching its lowest between 3 PM and 5 PM. Temperatures at high altitudes are lower than at sea level, dropping by 6°C for every 1,000 meters of elevation gain. A person’s body temperature can decrease under environmental influences through evaporation, radiation, convection, and conduction. Therefore, unless the temperature is close to 30°C every day, you should always remember to bring extra clothing when engaging in outdoor sports. If outdoor enthusiasts experience hypothermia, they should learn to improvise using available resources — for example, a large plastic bag can also provide temporary wind and rain protection.
It’s especially important to note that hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposure to a cold environment, not extreme cold alone. Because moving air continuously draws heat away from the body’s surface, this “wind chill effect” makes the perceived temperature feel lower than the actual air temperature when it’s windy, so one should avoid exposure to cold winds.
In addition, compared to -30°C cold winds, light rain at -10°C with strong winds is more likely to cause hypothermia. Therefore, it’s essential to avoid getting completely wet, especially ensuring your inner clothing stays dry, while maintaining body warmth and avoiding dehydration.
Do not rewarm patients suddenly during rescue
If hypothermia occurs outdoors, it’s crucial to act quickly and provide first aid to the patient.
The treatment of hypothermia begins with preventing further heat loss and ensuring the patient is no longer exposed to the cold. First, remove any wet clothing and replace it with dry clothes, then wrap the patient’s entire body with warm clothing, sleeping bags, etc. If only on-site treatment is possible, wrap a hot water bottle in a thick glove or sock and place it on the patient’s armpit or groin, as these areas have major blood vessels close to the body’s surface. If the patient is still able to swallow, provide them with warm, sweet liquids. If the patient is semi-conscious, do not attempt to give them water. In some cases, direct body contact with another person may be necessary to help warm the patient. Treatment for hypothermia should continue until the patient resumes urination.
If the patient is unconscious, place them in the recovery position; if breathing and heartbeat have stopped, immediately perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the patient should be transferred to a hospital as soon as possible. Hypothermia patients must be moved with care to prevent a sudden backflow of cold blood from the skin to the heart, which can cause cardiac arrhythmia.
Sudden rewarming of a hypothermia patient can cause shock. Severely hypothermic patients require a long time to return to normal body temperature and must be closely monitored throughout this period. Remember not to give the patient alcohol, do not rub or massage their limbs, and do not encourage them to exercise.