Hypothermia

The last part of the MARCH algorithm is Hypothermia.

Hypothermia is textbook defined as a core body temperature of 95 degrees F. That is not much lower than the average core body temp of 98.6 degrees F. In trauma blood loss and shock can lead to hypothermia. Remember, our blood helps us thermoregulate our body temperature. Burns is another big way we thermoregulate. Prevention is going to be key to hypothermia treatment. Hence why we put our casualties on a litter with at the very least a casualty blanket. By the time we get to this stage, it is recommended to figure out if they are in need of more aggressive hypothermia prevention. One thing that can help is if you add insulation to your hypothermia prevention. Whether that be a sleeping bag, or even just simply a woobie we want to add something that will help add to the heat retention (or r value for all your backpackers out there) of the hypothermia prevention. If we feel we need to add some sort of external heat source we can either add a ready heat, or simply add some large hand warmers to add more heat to keep their core temp up.

As we talked about in circulation, keeping them from going hypothermic will prevent them from entering the death spiral caused by the lethal triad. Hypothermia can prevent proper clotting and we want to encourage proper clotting, not prevent it. This is why you should bring your beanie even in the summertime. It might just help save your life.

Have you treated for hypothermia before? Have you ever gotten hypothermia before?

Do you desire to know more?

Come out to a class. We talk about this in WAY more detail and even will cover it in the final excercise.

By mechmedicPublished On: April 8, 2022Categories: MechMedic, Medical4 Comments

About the Author: mechmedic

MechMedic is the owner of Stuck Pig Medical and medical instructor for Brushbeater Training and Consulting. After 5 years in the beloved Corps, Mech joined the National Guard where he became a medic. Lifelong survivalist, and overall outdoorsman. When not being a family man, he enjoys good bourbon and good cigars.

4 Comments

SOG April 8, 2022 at 07:53

https://www.keepshooting.com/apls-thermal-guard-hypothermia-response-system.html

these are a good system to put up for those in cold weather areas
- mechmedic April 8, 2022 at 12:15
  
  That looks like a great improvement over just a casualty blanket. Thanks for sharing.
Sand Sock April 8, 2022 at 08:49

good morning M&M .. your not old enough to of been taught this. but it used to be taught , to treat hupothermia with hot jello mix. you get carbs/sugar/heat/fat. this used to be taught in the late 80’s

yes i have seen hypothermic exhaustion. we didnt have any jello , but tea and honey and packed you away for a few hours into a sleeping bag/ i have treated with the jello , in late winter, getting stuck out in the cold and drenched. where the umbles/mumbles and stumbles kick in.
- mechmedic April 8, 2022 at 12:07
  
  I was taught to have the casualty eat if they were conscious. But that was when I was in Boy Scouts. I don’t see why it wouldn’t apply here as well. But that is more of a prolonged field care thing and not so much a TCCC thing which is why I didn’t mention it. But you are absolutely right. Eating will increase your core temp.