How to Raise My Core Body Temp With a Heating Pad

Your core body temperature is the temperature at which your body's internal systems and organs function at their best. Normally, your body regulates its own temperature, maintaining a constant range. There are instances in which your body temperature may get too low, such as prolonged exposure to cold outdoor temperatures, severe trauma, shock or drug and alcohol abuse. A low core body temperature is extremely dangerous and requires medical attention, but if you are unable to reach a medical facility quickly, you can use a heating pad in the meantime to help raise it.

Things You'll Need

• Heating pad
• Towel
• Blankets

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Instructions

• 1

  Wrap the heating pad in a towel and plug it in. Turn it to low heat.

• 2

  Place the heating pad on the upper abdominal area, and wrap yourself in blankets.

• 3

  Increase the heating pad temperature gradually, moving up to medium 20 minutes after placing it on your body, and then to high after 30 minutes. According to "Survive Outdoors," it is important to raise your body temperature at a slow, safe rate.

• 4

  Check the temperature of the pad and your body with your bare hand every 20 minutes, staying covered as much as possible while doing so. If your skin starts to turn red and feels quite hot, you could experience a burn from the pad. If you have someone there with you, it is best to have them check it for you, as your hands could still be experiencing low temperatures which will cause you to not accurately feel external temperatures.

• 5

  Keep the heating pad on as long as it takes you to warm up, but if you do not notice any improvement within 2 hours, seek medical attention.