Hypothermia Can Happen Both Indoors and Outdoors (2024)

When we think ofhypothermia, our minds typically go to an accident where someone falls through the ice, is floating in sub zero sea waters or someone who is caught outside in the cold for too long.

Truth is though, we’re all susceptible tohypothermia— a dangerous drop in core body temperature usually following prolonged exposure to the cold. And it doesn’t have to occur in those dramatic outdoorcirc*mstances, either.

It may surprise you to know your body can lose a dangerous amount of heat even at room temperature if the conditions are right.

“There are no hard-and-fast rules as to the exact temperature at which you can gethypothermiaor the amount of time it takes,” says emergency medicine physicianThomas Waters, MD. “Even at room temperature, you can become hypothermic if the circ*mstances are right for it.”

Who is most at risk forhypothermia?

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults with inadequate heat, food and clothing and young children are atgreater risk of gettinghypothermiain any condition.

Children generallytend to lose heat from their bodies faster than adults do. They also tend to be less aware if they’re experiencing symptoms, given their high energy levels and tendency to be more physically active. Babies who sleep in cold bedrooms can also be at risk.

People who remain outdoors for long periods of time — those who don’t have basic shelter, those who participate in outdoor work orsports,those who are mentally ill and people dependent on drugs and alcohol are also at a greater risk.

It’s important that if you know anyone who is at risk of indoor hypothermia to check on them often to prevent any dangerous complications from cold weather months. They may not be aware of these dangers, so if you’re able to, inform them and offer help if you can.

Here are more key facts abouthypothermiayou should know:

There are more risk factors than cold temperatures

The risk factors forhypothermiayou probably think of first — wind chill, submersion in cold water and working outside in the cold — are all factors that can certainly rob your body of its heat.

But there are many factors other than a cold environment that put you at greater risk forhypothermia. It’s important to also consider these contributing factors you may not expect:

• Age (especially advanced age)— Children and the elderly are more susceptible. “Both extremes of age are more at risk because they just don’t have the ability to adapt to the environment as easily,” says Dr. Waters.
• Medical conditions—Dementia,hypothyroidism, low blood sugar and high blood pressure sometimes contribute tohypothermia.
• Medication— Certain medications can increase the risk ofhypothermiafor older adults. These include certainbarbiturates,antidepressantsandtranquilizers. “Blood pressure medications can also inhibit your body’s ability to respond to cold, especially for older adults,” Dr. Waters says.
• Dehydration— When you’redehydrated,you may have lower blood volume. Lower blood volume affects your circulation and your body can lose heat more quickly, which can result inhypothermia.
• Strenuous outdoor activities— Evenathletessometimes become dangerously overtired and also lose heat more quickly if they are damp from sweating.
• Alcohol or druguse— “Alcohol causes the blood vessels to dilate, so you’ll feel warmer but actually become hypothermic quicker,” Dr. Waters says. “Alcohol and drug usecan also lead to poor decision-making, so it’s best to avoid bothwhen it’s cold.”

Hypothermiacan happenindoors

It’s possible to lose a dangerous amount of body heat inside your own home.Hypothermiacan happenindoorsin as little as 10 or 15 minutes if the temperature settings are cold enough.

Not having any heat in your home in the winter can be very dangerous. So is keeping your heat turned down too low. Both can lead tohypothermia.

“It’s also not an uncommon scenario for a person to fall and be unable to get up off the floor,” Dr. Waters says. “Lying on a cold basem*nt floor increases the body’s rate of cooling, creating a setting wherehypothermiacould set in.”

“If you’re wet, poorly nourished, orinadequatelyclothed on top of not having enough heat, you’ll get colder much faster — and the fasterhypothermiacan occur,” he says.

Hypothermiais a medical emergency and can be fatal

Hypothermiais a medical emergency. If recognized early and treated appropriately there are typically no long-term effects. Otherwise, serious consequences are very possible.

Thousands of people die each year in the United States fromhypothermia— and many of those deaths are preventable.

“Hypothermiacan affect the brain and nervous system, the cardiovascular system and the liver. It canimpairyour motor coordination, decision making, and thus your ability to help yourself out of it. If not treated quickly, it can lead to death,” says Dr. Waters.

Know the signs and act quickly

Time is of the utmost importance in treatinghypothermia. If the conditionals are right, it can begin within minutes of your body starting to lose heat.

It begins with noticeable shivering, which is your body’s way of trying to compensate for the cold.

As your body becomes dangerously cold, the shivering stops.

“You may then start to feel weak and dizzy, uncoordinated,confused,start toslur your speech and make poor decisions as your mental capacitydecreases,” Dr. Waters says.

Here’s a complete list of commonsymptoms ofhypothermia.

For adults:

• Shivering.
• Exhaustion or feeling very tired.
• Confusion.
• Fumbling hands.
• Memory loss.
• Slurred speech.
• Drowsiness.

For infants and children:

• Cold, brightred skin.
• Low energy.
• Drowsiness.

What you should do forhypothermia

Call 911 first thing if you suspect that you or someone else hashypothermia.

Dr. Waters then recommends that you:

• Get out of the cold as soon as possible.
• Remove any wet clothing.
• Begin rewarming the body by wrapping it in warm blankets.

“When helping another person, be gentle,” he says. “As hypothermiasets in the person may already beginning to go through a bit of shock both physically and mentally, so remaining calm can help a great deal.”

How to avoid and preventhypothermia

The best way to deal with cold weather and to avoidhypothermiais to prepare. Remember this acronym:

C– Clothing. Wear dry, warm clothing, including a hat.

O– Open. Make sure clothing is open during exercise to avoid excessive sweating.

L– Loose. Dress in loose layers.

D– Dry. Stay as dry as possible.

“If you’re going to be anywhere affected by colder temperatures—whether inside your home in the winter, going for quickdrive inyour car, or inany environment that maysee a suddendrop in temperatures—be prepared and consider taking along asurvival kit that includes blankets, water, some emergency food and a heavy coat,” says Dr. Waters. “You never know what can happen out there.”