Occurs if core *(rectal, esophageal) temperatures fall below 35 degrees C (95 digress F)
May take hours to days to develop. Occurs when exposed to very cold temperatures, or immersion in cold water. Leads to reduction in metabolic rate, fall in cerebral blood flow, with hypotension, bradycardia, cyanosis, delirium, muscular rigidity, and coma.
Treatment
Remove wet clothes, move to warm temperature, protect against wind blast
Establish ABC of basic life support. Correct metabolic acidosis.
Rewarming is done slowly at 0.5-2.0 degree an hour. Wrap in heated blanket. Heating pads.
Administration of heated IV solution (45 degrees centigrade)
