Hypothermia kills people in states with mild as well as harsh winters, federal health officials warn in a new report. Hypothermia, a drop in the body’s core temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, is a medical emergency that can turn fatal if not treated promptly. The condition is considered severe when the body temperature falls below 86. Normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees.
A total of 12,368 deaths nationwide were attributed to hypothermia from 1979 through 1995, an average of more than 700 a year, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control. Hawaii was the only state with no deaths reported from hypothermia.
In winter, the main cause of hypothermia is heat loss from exposure to cold and wind. But other factors, such as malnutrition and consumption of alcohol, put people at higher risk. Most at risk are the very young and the very old; the latter account for about half of all deaths from hypothermia.
To emphasize that hypothermia can strike in Southern states, the CDC noted that 14 people died of hypothermia during the past two years in the Atlanta metropolitan area. One was a 38-year-old man who was found lying in the parking lot of his apartment building, fully dressed and wearing a jacket.
The temperature when he was found was 72 degrees, but had dipped into the 40s overnight. He had a high blood alcohol level, indicating intoxication, and the autopsy concluded that he died from hypothermia after falling and striking his head on the ground.
The onset of hypothermia is often insidious. Early symptoms include shivering, bluish or puffy skin, numbness, fatigue, poor coordination, slurred speech and impaired judgment
Health officials noted that hypothermia can be prevented by simple steps, beginning with the time-honored advice to wear insulated or layered clothing, including headgear that does not absorb moisture.
People outdoors for prolonged periods should also consume plenty of fluids, abstain from alcohol and avoid overexertion.
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