Signs of Hypothermia

Signs of hypothermia

Hypothermia produces a variety of signs and symptoms as body core temperature falls. Unfortunately, hypothermia causes changes in mental status, so that the person with a falling body temperature may not recognize symptoms or be able to seek assistance. This problem is compounded if the elderly person is consuming alcohol or other drugs that may produce a dulling of awareness or interfere with the ability to think clearly.

WARNING SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA begin when the body temperature gets below 95º F / 35º C

The “umbles”: grumbling, mumbling, stumbling or fumbling.
Shivering, though shivering also means that a person’s heat regulation systems are still working.
Exhaustion, confusion or memory loss. These symptoms will begin gradually.
For infants, look for bright red, cold skin and very low energy levels.

Source: University of Kentucky Healthcarehttps://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/sites/default/files/warning-signs-of-hypothermia.pdf

The National Institute on Aging offers the following:

Early warning signs of hypothermia are usually seen at a body core temperature between 32º-35º C

Cold feet and hands

Puffy or swollen face

Pale skin

Shivering (in some cases the person with hypothermia does not shiver)

Slower than normal speech or slurring words

Acting sleepy

Being angry or confused

Fatigue

Slow gait

Apathy

Slurred speech

Confusion,

Muscle weakness.(USDHHS, n.d.)

Later signs of hypothermia are usually seen at a body core temperature between 28º-30º C

Moving slowly, trouble walking, or being clumsy

Stiff and jerky arm or leg movements

Slow heartbeat

Slow, shallow breathing

Blacking out or losing consciousness (USDHHS, n.d.)

Hypotension

Stupor or coma

Muscular rigidity

Generalized edema

Slowed reflexes

Poorly reactive pupils

Oliguria

Arrthymias and cardiorespiratory arrest.

Instant Feedback:

The elderly person who is developing hypothermia may be unaware of it because falling body temperature causes changes in mental status.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Cold Weather Safety for Older Adults. National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/cold-weather-safety-older-adults

Warning signs of hypothermia - UK healthcare. (n.d.). https://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/sites/default/files/warning-signs-of-hypothermia.pdf