35 How can one tell if somebody is hypothermic?
Description
This article is from the Sea Kayaking FAQ, by Todd Leigh with numerous contributions by others.
35 How can one tell if somebody is hypothermic?
It can be difficult to tell if someone is hypothermic without actually
measuring their core temperature. Measuring a persons core temperature
in the field requires a rectal thermometer and is typically not
practical. Therefore symptoms must be relied on. Hypothermia affects
people in different ways and no one symptom is reliable to indicate if
a person is hypothermic.
The following lists the body core temperature and its typical signs
and symptoms. Not all hypothermia victims exhibit all of these
symptoms, it varies from person to person. Note symptoms will change
as the person's core temperature changes.
core temp.
signs and symptoms
99 to 97F (37 to 36C)
Normal temperature range,
Shivering may begin
97 to 95F (36 to 35C)
Cold sensation, goose bumps, unable to perform complex tasks
with hands, shivering can be mild to severe, skin numb
95 to 93F (35 to 34C)
Shivering intense, muscle incoordination becomes apparent,
movements slow and labored, stumbling pace, mild confusion,
may appear alert, unable to walk 30 ft. line properly
93 to 90F (34 to 32C)
Violent shivering persists, difficulty speaking, sluggish
thinking, amnesia starts to appear and may be retrograde,
gross muscle movements sluggish, unable to use hands,
stumbles frequently, difficulty speaking, signs of depression
90 to 86F (32 to 30C)
Shivering stops in chronic hypothermia, exposed skin blue or
puffy, muscle coordination very poor with inability to walk,
confusion, incoherent, irrational behavior, BUT MAY BE ABLE
TO MAINTAIN POSTURE AND THE APPEARANCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTACT.
86 to 82F (30 to 27.7C)
Muscles severely rigid, semiconscious, stupor, loss of
psychological contact, pulse and respiration slow, pupils
can dilate
82 to 78F (27 to 25.5C)
Unconsciousness, heart beat and respiration erratic, pulse
and heart beat may be inapparent, muscle tendon reflexes cease
78 to 75F (25 to 24C)
Pulmonary edema, failure of cardiac and respiratory centers,
probable death, DEATH MAY OCCUR BEFORE THIS LEVEL
64F (17.7C)
Lowest recorded temperature of chronic hypothermia survivor
This table is from a book by Wm. Forgey called _Hypothermia-Death by
Exposure_.
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