| |
accidental hypothermia
unintended lowering of body temperature due to prolonged exposure to cold; the extremities can withstand temperatures as much as 10 to 15°C (18 to 27°F) lower than
the torso, where vital organs are located. When the core temperature drops even a few degrees, physiologic changes can lead to fatal cardiac arrhythmias and respiratory failure. Persons most at risk for accidental hypothermia include the very young, the very thin, the very
old, the mentally challenged or emotionally unstable, alcohol and drug abusers, and the homeless. Symptoms range from mild
shivering and complaints of feeling chilled to loss of consciousness, absence of reflexes, and barely detectable pulse and
respirations.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
Click here for important legal information about Dorland's Medical Dictionary.
|
