Treating a Victim of Cold Water Immersion
When treating victims of cold water immersion, you should:
- Get the victim out of the water as soon as possible. Remove the victim from the water gently and in a horizontal position.
- Prevent further heat loss.
- Treat the hypothermia victim gently and to your level of training. Be prepared to provide basic life support.
- Seek medical help immediately.
Symptoms of Hypothermia
Learn to recognize symptoms of hypothermia. They are listed here in order of severity.
- Shivering, slurred speech, blurred vision
- Bluish lips and fingernails
- Loss of feeling in extremities
- Cold, bluish skin
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Rigidity in extremities
- Unconsciousness
- Coma
- Death
