On site handling
The main preventive measures for hypothermia are to prevent the significant loss of body heat, followed by improving the body’s ability to adapt to cold. There are some specific methods as follows.
1. Build a shelter
The train station is an outdoor venue and should not be camping. It is important to contact the station in a timely manner to determine traffic conditions and choose nearby evacuation points as much as possible. Keep your body dry and prevent overwork. If there are many people, it is best to use a “companion system” and observe each other carefully to detect symptoms as soon as possible. If this disease is found in the population, it cannot be ruled out that other people may also have been affected. So, we need to check one by one.
If you find that your body temperature is too low, you should deal with it in a timely manner to prevent further heat dissipation. Stay indoors and take shelter from the wind; Take off damp clothes (not bare), take off one coat at a time, and change into dry clothes. Do not lie the patient directly on the ground, take warm measures, such as using the body or warm rocks to warm the patient. When the patient is awake, let them drink hot drinks and consume sugary foods.
2. Cold starts from the feet
Shoes should be made of materials with good ventilation, such as canvas, leather, etc. When wearing rubber and plastic shoes, the feet are prone to frostbite after sweating. Hard and tight shoes hinder blood circulation in the feet and are also prone to frostbite. When there is numbness in the toes (a sign of frostbite), stepping can be done to promote blood circulation.
3. Pay attention to keeping warm
Wearing cold resistant clothing, which has high insulation value and is easy to carry, can prevent wind and water, making it an ideal cold resistant tool.
For passengers stranded at the station, the temperature at night will be lower. Clothes should be tied tightly at the cuffs and cuffs, buttoned up at the collar, put down the hat ears, and wear gloves. Maintaining breathability in clothing is crucial. Clothes should not be worn too tightly, as it not only does not make people feel warm, but also cold and uncomfortable. It is better to wear multiple layers of thin clothes than a thick one, as it has more air layers and better insulation effect. Keep clothing dry. Wet or sweaty clothes should be dried in a timely manner, and the ice and snow on the clothes should be shaken off in a timely manner.
4. Regular activity massage
To minimize skin exposure, it is necessary to exercise or massage frequently in areas prone to frostbite. Avoid contact with items that conduct heat quickly. Contact between metal and bare hands or snow and buttocks can accelerate the loss of heat, causing local frostbite.
When hypothermia worsens, the body finds it difficult to self heat again, so it needs to be heated from outside the body. Rapid external heating can promote the flow of cold blood into the body, further exacerbating the condition. Hot bodies can be placed in the following areas: waist, back, stomach, armpits, neck, wrist, crotch. These areas have blood flow close to the surface of the body and can carry heat into the body.
5. Timely replenishment of energy
To maintain body temperature in cold environments, the human body inevitably experiences an increase in metabolism and physical exertion. Only by increasing the intake of nutrients can the human body meet its needs. Therefore, high calorie protein and fat foods should be increased compared to usual. Alcohol and water cannot generate heat, and alcohol should never be consumed during cold weather. Although drinking alcohol can temporarily cause a feeling of fever in the body, it actually causes blood vessels to expand, increases body heat dissipation, and leads to physical weakness. Expert reminder: Never drink alcohol to keep warm.
During the rescue process, there are three situations that cannot be ignored.
Firstly, when the rescued person looked at the ambulance, they suddenly felt “I’m alive!” “I’m victorious!” As a result, the spiritual power generated by the belief and will that supported them to survive and fight again suddenly disappeared, causing a sudden drop in adrenal hormones and blood pressure, heart arrest, and death.
Secondly, due to the injured being in a frozen paralyzed state, their body temperature continues to drop deeper and they have not yet escaped danger. Some of the victims of the “Da Shun” were saved for a while when they were first rescued, but when they were wrapped in blankets and sent to the hospital for rescue, their pupils had dilated and they had fallen asleep forever. So, rescuing critically ill patients with hypothermia requires both speed and appropriate measures, otherwise they may miss the opportunity for rescue or damage their limbs and skin.
Thirdly, the Law of Righteousness C: When rescuing individuals with hypothermia, it is important to avoid their drowsiness, awaken them, and continuously massage and pat their entire body. The duration should be equal to or greater than the time spent in the cold.
