William Penn Life, 2012 (47. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2012-12-01 / 12. szám
"v Our Health Corner with Debbie Wolfe, rn DECEMBER is a busy month. The kids are home on Christmas break. Many people travel to spend the holidays with family and friends. There is snow to be shoveled. And it's COLD outside. We can't avoid our outside activities just because of the weather, but we can be smart and aware of winter's dangers. One of the major concerns is hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when the body gets cold and loses heat faster than the body can make it. Normal body temperature ranges from 97.5°F to 99.6°F, an average of 98.6°F. Hypothermia can occur when you are exposed to cold air, water, wind or rain. Your body temperature can drop to low levels anytime the outside temperatures are below 50°F, or in water below 60°F degrees. Hypothermia is an emergency condition and can quickly lead to unconsciousness and death if heat loss continues. It is important to know the symptoms of hypothermia and get treatment quickly. Often a hiker's or skier's body temperature will drop really low before others notice that something is wrong. If someone begins to shiver violently, stumble or can't respond to questions, it may be hypothermia, and you need to warm them quickly. Early symptoms include: • Shivering • Cold, pale, or blue-gray skin. • Lack of interest or concern (apathy) • Poor judgment • Mild unsteadiness in balance or walking • Slurred speech • Numb hands and fingers and problems performing tasks. • Weakness or sleepiness • Confusion • Loss of consciousness • Shivering, this may stop if body temperature drops below 90 degrees. Anyone can get hypothermia. Most healthy people with mild to moderate hypothermia with recover completely without permanent injury. Recovery is harder for babies and older, ill or inactive adults. Hypothermia can occur indoors, especially in babies and older or ill adults that are not dressed warmly enough. Medical treatment depends on the severity of the hypothermia. Treatment of mild hypothermia includes getting out of the cold or wet environment, removing any wet clothing and using warm blankets, heaters and hot water bottles. Moderate to severe hypothermia generally is treated in the hospital, where doctors can use special techniques to warm the core body temperature. So, enjoy this winter season. Bundle up, go outside and play in the snow. Go for a walk and listen for that distinctive crunch of snow under your boots. But, pay attention to when you begin receiving signals from your body that it may be time to get back inside and have that nice warm cup of cocoa. Merry Christmas to all of you dear WPA readers. This will be my first Christmas without my children here to celebrate. So, I would like to send a big hug to my sailor son and his family, now stationed in Bethesda, Md. A second hug goes out to my student son and his family, now studying at Mercer School of Law in Macon, Ga. May the love and joy of this season be felt by all! Till next month.... Late symptoms include: The trunk of the body is cold to the touch • Muscles become stiff • Slow pulse • Breathing is shallow and slower Be Healthy! Be Happy! stay Fit! Pebble j-JaaJih Units To learn more about hypothermia, other health and safety problems brought on by cold weather and how to prevent and treat them, log onto: 3 http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/ (The winter weather section of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website) 3 http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2009/January/feature I .htm (Information on winter health problems from the National Institutes of Health) William Penn Life 0 December 2012 0 11 Hypothermia season is here
