Environmental illnesses such as hypothermia and hyperthermia can have life threatening effects. They can be avoided with careful planning and an understanding of the impact these illnesses can have. To read more on planning for prevention, click here.
Hypothermia is a condition where the body’s internal temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius. It is caused by prolonged exposure to cold water or air. The treatment for hypothermia is as follows:
- Move the patient to a dry warm place. If wet, remove wet clothing.
- Place the patient between warm blankets or sleeping bag and wrap them in a space blanket.
- Cover the patient’s head (eg- with a beanie, cap etc) to preserve heat loss.
- If conscious, give the patient warm drinks (no alcohol). If available, place warm water bottles or heat packs directly to the neck, groin or armpits.
- Seek medical help.
Hyperthermia is a condition where the body’s internal temperature rises above normal ranges. Heat Stroke is the most serious hyperthermia and occurs when the body’s internal temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius. Treatments for hyperthermia include:
- Lay the patient down in a cool place out of the sun.
- Remove excess clothing
- If available, place ice or cold packs to the neck, groin and armpits
- Sponge or spray the patient with cool water directly to the skin
- If conscious, have the patient drink small sips of water regularly, ensuring that the qualities are small to avoid vomiting.
- Seek medical assistance.
Both hypothermia and hyperthermia have the potential to be deadly when not treated. The importance of planning when engaging in any outdoor activity can not be over estimated. As well as planning, understanding the physiological processes in the body is also beneficial to helping prevent issues.