How to Recognize and Assess Hypothermia

When it's cold in the wilderness, hypothermia is one of the greatest dangers you face. Early recognition, followed by treatment, can save a life.

Things You'll Need

• Wilderness First Aid Classes
• First Aid Kits
• Low-reading Body Thermometers

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Instructions

• 1

  Ask the affected person how he or she feels: If he or she expresses feeling chilled and manifests goose bumps, a slight lack of coordination in the fingers, mild shivering and slight mental impairment, mild hypothermia is probably the cause. Treat immediately (see "How to Treat Mild Hypothermia").

• 2

  Check for more serious symptoms: severe muscular coordination problems (inability to use hands, stumbling, falling), violent and uncontrollable shivering, impaired judgment and irritability. These are most likely indicative of moderate hypothermia. Treat immediately (see "How to Treat Moderate Hypothermia").

• 3

  Assess for yet more severe symptoms: cessation of shivering, almost complete lack of muscular coordination, muscular rigidity, unconsciousness, lowered heart and respiratory rate, dilated pupils and fruity breath (from incomplete metabolism of fat). These symptoms likely indicate severe hypothermia. Treat immediately (see "How to Treat Severe Hypothermia").

• 4

  Take the person's temperature with a low-reading thermometer. A temperature from 98.6 degrees F down to 95 degrees indicates mild hypothermia; from 95 degrees down to 90 indicates moderate hypothermia; below 90 degrees indicates severe hypothermia.