Hypothermia warning due to cold weather...How to prevent and cope with cold diseases?
Jan 10, 2025
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Hypothermia refers to a state in which the central body's temperature drops below 35℃ because the body is exposed to cold for a long time and cannot maintain normal body temperature. Among cold diseases, it belongs to systemic diseases, and localized diseases include frostbite, alveolar, needle disease, and flooded diseases.
When the body temperature goes down, the whole body trembles in the early stages, especially in the arms and legs. When the body temperature drops further, the symptoms of tremors stop and myotension occurs, resulting in dull body movement, dull speech, and decreased memory and judgment. Subsequently, consciousness may become blurred and unconscious.
If the body temperature persists below 35℃, the function of important organs such as the heart, brain, and lungs may deteriorate, posing a life threat, so care should be taken.
When exposed to cold, our body contracts peripheral blood vessels to reduce heat loss and shake the body to raise body temperature, and the elderly, like A, are more vulnerable to cold diseases due to reduced autonomic nervous system and vascular defense mechanisms.
According to the 2023-2024 cold disease emergency room monitoring system, 67.0% of men and 29.3% of those over 80 were reported among cold disease patients, and hypothermia was the most common among cold diseases with 79.5%. In addition, the place of occurrence was 21.5% on the side of the road, 18.0% on the house, and 14.3% around the residence.
To prevent cold diseases, maintain an appropriate temperature of 18-20℃ and an appropriate humidity of 40~60% indoors. It is efficient to set it to around 20 degrees using a temperature control timer, use carpets or lugs to prevent heat from escaping, and attach insulation or use thick curtains to block cold air from entering the window gap.
Electric pads that locally raise the temperature can maintain body temperature with small energy without turning on the entire heating, but must be used efficiently after checking safety requirements before use.
Before going out, be sure to check the sensible temperature along with basic weather information, and wearing inner wear has a warming effect of about 2.4℃, so wear inner wear made of soft and absorbent material when going out.
The head and neck, where the largest blood vessels pass closest to the heart, should be kept warm with scarves, masks, and hats as heat escapes the fastest among body parts, hands and feet should also be kept warm with gloves and cold boots, and should refrain from outdoor activities as much as possible in cold weather.
Sohn Kang-ho (emergency medical specialist) of Daedong Hospital Regional Emergency Medical Center said, `It is important to know and practice health rules for preventing cold diseases because indoor areas block wind and reduce the effect of external temperature, but it is important to maintain proper temperature through heating to prevent health problems.'" he advised.
"Sensitive groups who are elderly or vulnerable to cold waves such as cardio-cerebrovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and hypothyroidism should frequently check their health conditions and visit medical institutions immediately if they have abnormal symptoms," he said.
If you find a hypothermia patient, immediately call 119 and move the patient to a warm place until the paramedics arrive. If your clothes are wet, you should take them off and cover your body with a blanket. If you are conscious, talk to them to stay awake and give them warm drinks or chocolate, but if you are unconscious, you should not give them food because there is a risk of suffocation.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
