Party-goers at risk from hypothermia tonight
Dec 31 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal
NEW Year revellers could be at risk of hypothermia tonight, say doctors. Newcastle nights out are famed for coatless party-goers, but with freezing temperatures predicted, they are being advised to ditch tradition and wrap up warm.
Dr Mike Guy, medical director for NHS North of Tyne, said alcohol and cold weather could be a fatal combination.
“Although it makes you feel warmer, alcohol actually lowers your core body temperature. The cold weather at this time of year means that hypothermia is a very real risk.
“Severe hypothermia can kill you – if you’re out on a very cold night and have been drinking, you can be affected by hypothermia very quickly.”
Hypothermia occurs when the normal body temperature of 37C drops below 35. When the body’s energy is exhausted, the condition can become life-threatening.
There are three stages of hypothermia which people should watch out for. They are:
Mild – accompanied by bouts of shivering, grogginess and muddled thinking;
Moderate – characterised by violent shivering or shivering which suddenly stops, an inability to think and pay attention, slow shallow breathing, and a slow, weak pulse;
Severe – the shivering stops and the patient loses consciousness while displaying little or no breathing and a weak, irregular or non-existent pulse.
A spokesman for the Met Office said it was expecting temperatures to be below freezing for much of today and to fall further after dark.
He said: “There will be light to moderate winds, which could make things feel even colder.
“We are not expecting too much rain – there could be some – but the main problem will be the temperatures.
“They will barely rise above zero during the day and will drop below that later on. Temperatures will remain cold for the rest of the week.”
Dr Guy also warned of the dangers of excessive drinking over the New Year. He said: “Excessive drinking can kill you, whether it’s slowly from the progressive effects of liver disease, or quickly from acute alcohol poisoning.
“Binge drinking – which is a common problem that peaks at this time of year – has a serious impact on your health.
“Impaired judgement, loss of consciousness and ultimately a fatal poisoning are the very real potential consequences of excessive drinking.”
HYPOTHERMIA is treated by preserving body heat and preventing any more being lost.
If you are treating someone with mild hypothermia at home, or waiting for medical treatment to arrive, follow the advice below.
Things you should do:
Move the person indoors, or somewhere warm, as soon as possible.
Ensure that they change out of any wet clothing.
Wrap them in blankets, towels, coats – whatever you have – protecting the head and torso as a priority. Your own body heat can help someone with hypothermia. Try gently hugging them.
Increase activity if possible, but not to the point where sweating occurs, which cools the skin down again.
If possible, give the person carbohydrates to eat to provide rapid energy, or fats to provide prolonged fuel to the body.
Give them warm drinks, but not alcohol, and once body temperature has increased, be sure to keep the person warm and dry.
