Freezing, causes and symptoms: Never give alcohol to a victim of hypothermia

What is frostbite? Let's see when hypothermia occurs and what to do to get the affected person to safety.

A condition that occurs when the body is subjected to harsh temperatures for a long time, exposure can cause death. This is an extreme situation, which requires immediate medical attention. Therefore, the first thing to do when dealing with a hypothermia victim is to call an ambulance.

Freezing: the symptoms

Freezing, or hypothermia, is a condition that occurs when the body temperature drops below 35 degrees . Generally, this problem manifests itself gradually, when a person spends a lot of time in the cold. It should be stressed that it can be life threatening when the body temperature drops below 30°C. Symptoms are different:

• pallor;
• cool, grayish skin;
• chills ;
• tachycardia;
• rapid breathing;
• sweat;
• articolar pains;
• muscle stiffness;
• bradycardia;
• pins and needles;
• confusion;
• drowsiness .

When the body temperature drops below 30 degrees, the person suffering from hypothermia can fall into a state of unconsciousness. If vital functions begin to slow down, you can die of frostbite, mainly caused by cardiac arrest.

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What to do in case of frostbite?

The first thing to do in case of frostbite is to call for help . While awaiting the arrival of the doctors, it is advisable to warm the victim completely gradually. If she wears wet clothes, it is recommended to undress her and dress her in dry clothes. Then, it is necessary to cover her from the cold with blankets and encourage her to drink warm drinks that are not alcoholic. Also, do not rub your hands and feet to heat them up and do not expose the person affected by hypothermia to large temperature changes. In any case, we reiterate that the intervention of doctors is essential.

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