Considerations

In the field body temperature determination is not an exact procedure. It is the patient's core body temperature that needs to be measured. Temperature taken orally, under the arm, or even tympanic can be misleading. For this reason this patient requires transport to the local ER for further evaluations and treatment. During transport to the hospital EMS personnel must make sure IV fluids given to the patient are not too warm or too cold since the effects can have major negative out comes for a hypothermic patient.

Treatment considerations

• Move patient to a warm ambulance, remove patient’s wet clothing and cover with blankets. Intravenous solutions should be given within their specified temperature range. Many times solutions left in an ambulance may either be cold or warm depending on ambient temperatures of the ambulance.
• Oxygen is indicated in this patient, and may improve his mental status.
• Cardiac monitoring is indicated. (watching for Osborn  J waves)
• Watch for changes in patient’s condition en route to the hospital.

 
Conclusion

In most cases hypothermia is a result of another illness or accident. In this case the crew must pay detective to determine the overall picture. Since hypothermia at this early stage can be treated the EMS crew must make sure that their treatments help to improve the patient condition and don’t cause the body core temperature to continue to drop.