How do you explain hypothermia to a child?

Hypothermia is when the body gets so cold that it can’t warm itself up again. This can be dangerous because the organs inside the body will stop working if they get too cold.

What is hypothermia in simple terms?

Overview. Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F (37 C). Hypothermia (hi-poe-THUR-me-uh) occurs as your body temperature falls below 95 F (35 C).

What is hypothermia in pediatrics?

Hypothermia means that the body loses heat faster than it can make heat. It can happen when your child is exposed to cold air, water, wind, or rain. Most healthy people with mild to moderate hypothermia recover fully and don’t have lasting problems. Babies may be more at risk for hypothermia.

What is hyperthermia in child?

Hyperthermia develops as the child is unable to dissipate heat with prolonged exposure and can no longer maintain a normal core body temperature. As it progresses, dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities develop, particularly hypernatremia due to water loss and hypocalcemia due to skeletal muscle degradation.

How is hypothermia treated in children?

Treating Hypothermia Warm the person with warm blankets around the body, especially the neck and chest. Offer a warm beverage if the person is able to drink. Share body heat by using skin-to-skin contact by lying next to the child. Cover yourself and the child with a warm blanket.

How do you manage hypothermia in children?

Treatment

  1. Be gentle. When you’re helping a person with hypothermia, handle him or her gently.
  2. Move the person out of the cold.
  3. Remove wet clothing.
  4. Cover the person with blankets.
  5. Insulate the person’s body from the cold ground.
  6. Monitor breathing.
  7. Provide warm beverages.
  8. Use warm, dry compresses.

What are the five stages of hypothermia?

Treating Hypothermia

  • HT I: Mild Hypothermia, 35-32 degrees. Normal or near normal consciousness, shivering.
  • HT II: Moderate Hypothermia, 32-28 degrees. Shivering stops, consciousness becomes impaired.
  • HT III: Severe Hypothermia, 24-28 degrees.
  • HT IV: Apparent Death, 15-24 degrees.
  • HT V: Death from irreversible hypothermia.

Is hypothermia a medical emergency?

A body temperature under 95°F (35°C) is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not promptly treated. If the person has symptoms of hypothermia and a temperature cannot be taken, call 911.

How is hyperthermia treated in children?

Some over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), can help bring down a fever. However, they would be ineffective in treating hyperthermia. Only a change in environment, rehydration, and external cooling efforts (such as cool water or ice packs on the skin) can reverse hyperthermia.

What are the signs and symptoms of hyperthermia?

The body temperature may be over 105 F, a level that damages the brain and other organs. Other symptoms include muscle cramps, fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and weakness. The heart rate may be elevated, and the skin is reddened.

At what temp can a child get hypothermia?

Recognizing Hypothermia in Children Generally speaking, a child is considered hypothermic if their body temperature falls below 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

What are the signs and symptoms of hypothermia?

What are the signs and symptoms of hypothermia?

  • Shivering.
  • Exhaustion or feeling very tired.
  • Confusion.
  • Fumbling hands.
  • Memory loss.
  • Slurred speech.
  • Drowsiness.

What is the criteria for hypothermia?

Hypothermia is defined as a body core temperature below 35.0 °C (95.0 °F) in humans. Symptoms depend on the temperature. In mild hypothermia there is shivering and mental confusion.

Why does hypothermia cause cardiac arrest?

As cerebral metabolism declines , the brain needs less oxygen . In essence, hypothermia counteracts many of the destructive mechanisms of cardiac arrest. Its effects resemble those of cardiac defibrillation, which makes the heart stop and then reset itself to a normal rhythm.

What is therapeutic hypothermia?

Therapeutic hypothermia is a procedure used to cool a person’s body to a temperature that is lower than normal. The procedure is done after a cardiac arrest (when the heart stops) that happens outside of a healthcare setting. The unconscious person is cooled in the hospital after his or her breathing and heartbeat start again.