An elderly gentleman was shoveling his snow when you arrived for a home visit. You notice that when he comes inside he is very pale, is shivering, and seems a bit confused. His skin is very cold when you touch it
Which of the following actions would be most appropriate for the nurse to take first?
a.
Apply warm moist towels to his head, neck, chest, and groin
b.
Give him hot coffee with sugar to drink
c.
Have him get in a tub of very hot water immediately
d.
Call 911
ANS: A
Initial management is to prevent further loss of heat. Rewarming of the core temperature at a safe, slow rate is important to avoid lethal side effects. The reason for rewarming the core first is to prevent vasodilation that would place the individual in ventricular fibrillation. Measures that can be taken are: (1) remove the individual from the cold area as soon as possible; (2) add more clothing, especially to the head (e.g., use a hat or scarf); (3) provide a warm sweetened drink (no coffee or tea); and (4) apply mild heat to the head, neck, chest, and groin areas using hot water bottles or warm moist towels. Medical help is imperative, and hospitalization may be needed depending on the stage of hypothermia.
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