Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

9 Other Emergencies

Signs and symptoms may overlap; however, you should be able to tell the difference between mild and severe hypothermia. To assess the patient’s general temperature, peel back your glove and use the back of your wrist against the skin of the abdomen, the stomach. If the skin feels cool, the patient is probably experiencing a cold emergency. First aid for hypothermia focuses on recognizing the signs and symptoms and preventing the condition from getting any worse. Sometimes hypothermia can be mistaken for another illness or condition such as diabetes, stroke, alcohol, and drug use.

A seemingly warm day doesn’t rule out the possibility of hypothermia. Age, physical condition, health, clothing and location can all contribute to heat loss.

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