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Healthspot: Hypothermia

Winter is here and bringing with it hypothermia and frostbite.

Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissue while hypothermia is a condition when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Both conditions are related to winter and colder temperatures.

My name is Dr. Jason Hogan, and I’m an Emergency Medicine physician at Gunnison Valley Health.

Hypothermia symptoms can include shivering, slurred speech, shallow breathing, weak pulse, confusion, and loss of consciousness.

A person who is suffering from hypothermia generally will not realize they are affected, so treat them gently. Move them out of the cold, and if possible, remove wet clothing, cover them with blankets, monitor their breathing, provide warm beverages if they are awake, and use dry compresses.

Please visit the emergency department or call 911 if you are concerned that you or a loved one is experiencing a cold weather emergency.