Hypothermia

Defined as the body's failure to maintain a temperature of 36 degrees C (97 degrees F). Exposure to cool or cold temperatures over a short or long time can cause hypothermia. Dehydration and lack of food and rest predispose (prepare) the survivor to hypothermia. You must gradually warm the hypothermia victim. Get the victim into dry clothing. Replace lost fluids, and warm him. I might add, one method that we use is to get into a sleeping bag with the victim (mostly naked) and warm him with your own body heat. Some of the information above is from FM 21-76, Department of the Army SURVIVAL book, June 1992, which says on cover "approved for public release; distribution is unlimited”.

I have had hypothermia. It is no picnic. You shake so badly you can't stop. You also hyperventilate and can't stop. Luckily, I was not alone at the time. The other person kept me moving and would not stop until some boaters came down river and took us across, built us a big fire and gave us warm sweaters that helped us warm up. We then hitchhiked home 35 miles in the back of this pick up in the rain. (What a crummy day). I was in bed for two days after the doctor shot me full of something (antibiotics). The point is, you have to have an outside heat source to regenerate the lost heat in your body. Trust me, if you have hypothermia, you won't care if some big, hairy ugly guy gets naked in the sleeping bag with you.

Offered by Clip.