Management of hypothermia

Principles include:

• early recognition
• concentrate on restoring normothermia
• cold heart irritable; move patient gently, avoid unnecessary manipulation or procedures
• severely hypothermic heart may be unresponsive to drugs, pacing or defibrillation

Keep going: "They're not dead until they're warm in bed"

• minimise further heat loss
• remove wet garments
• use blankets
• use warm rescuer to lie next to victim
• warm humidified oxygen
• transport cautiously and gently

Reference

1. Dow J, Giesbrecht GG, Danzl DF, et al. Wilderness Medical Society clinical practice guidelines for the out-of-hospital evaluation and treatment of accidental hypothermia: 2019 update. Wilderness Environ Med. 2019 Dec;30(4 Suppl):S47-69.