Those most vulnerable to this condition are people who are chronically ill, who cannot afford enough heating fuel to keep warm, or who do not take the normal steps to keep warm. A small number of people whose inner-body temperature regulators are defective are at the greatest risk. When we are very cold, normally we feel the cold and start to shiver. Other ways to recognize accidental hypothermia include noticing if there is an unusual change in appearance or behavior during cold weather, slow or irregular heartbeat, slurred speech, shallow slow breathing, sluggishness or confusion. If this condition is suspected, the person should be seen by a doctor or nurse.
Treatment consists of rewarming the person's body under a doctor's supervision in a hospital.
To prevent accidental hypothermia, living and sleeping rooms should have temperatures set at about 65 F although sick people may require more heat. Because hypothermia can start during sleep, keep warm in bed with clothing and blankets. If you take medicine to treat anxiety, depression, or nervousness, ask your doctor if the medication might affect your body's control of temperature. Ask friends or neighbors to look in once or twice a day, especially during cold spells. See if your community has a telephone check-in or personal visit program for the elderly or homebound.