Avoid Falling Victim to Hypothermia
Iowa Department of Natural Resources

LEWIS – Getting the chills in November is nothing new to folks living in the upper Midwest, it goes with the territory. It is also the time for people who enjoy the outdoors to remember that hypothermia can strike when they least expect it. And it can happen when the temperature is above 40 degrees.

"I think the easiest time to get hypothermia is now, when people are not prepared for the cold weather," said Dale Anderson, a recreational safety officer with the DNR. "It all comes down to preparation. Be sure to dress in layers so you can be prepared for the changing conditions."

The early warning sign that the body is losing heat is shivering, then it gets more severe. "You start shaking and eventually the shaking becomes uncontrollable as your muscles try to create friction to warm up," Anderson said.

"I could see bird hunters easily getting hypothermia. They are out walking, working up a sweat, exerting energy walking up and down hills. If they take their coat off, the coat may be the only thing keeping them warm. You can cool off quickly and be in trouble before you know it," he said.

"The first thing to do is to quit what you are doing and get someplace warm," Anderson said. "It is tempting, if the hunting is really good, or the fish are really biting, to try to ignore it, but shivering is an advanced sign that the body needs to be warmed."

Other warning signs of hypothermia include confusion, memory loss, drowsiness, exhaustion, fumbling hands and slurred speech. "If you notice any of those signs, get medical attention immediately," he said.

Anderson offered a few tips to avoid falling victim to hypothermia. Stay dry – wet clothing can cause the body to lose heat. Avoid alcohol - it causes the body to lose heat more rapidly. Drink warm, sweet beverages, like hot chocolate, to help maintain body temperature.

More information is available at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/extremecold/hypothermia.htm.

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