Mountain Living

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Mental confusion.
Difficulty speaking.
95 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sluggish thinking.
Irrational thought.
Apathy.
False sense of warmth.
Cold skin.
Pale or bluish skin.
Inability to perform simple tasks.
Amnesia.
Hallucinations.
Decreased heart and respiratory rate.
Weak pulse.
Dilated pupils.
Slurred speech.
Visual disturbance.
90 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Shivering may stop. In addition, Soldier may experience.
Irrationality.
Incoherence.
Loss of contact with the environment.
Muscular rigidity.
Disorientation.
Exhaustion.
85 degrees Fahrenheit and below.
Muscle rigidity.
Unconsciousness.
Comatose state.
Faint vital signs.
Faint or impalpable pulse.
Breathing possibly too shallow to observe.

Prevention
2-86. Prevent hypothermia by using the buddy system to watch each other for symptoms; consume
adequate amounts of liquids daily; rest; and eat properly.

Avoidance
2-87. Hypothermia can be avoided by dressing in layers, which permits easy additions or deletions to
prevent overheating, becoming too cold, or getting wet or windblown. If the Soldier is in a situation that
precludes staying warm and dry, he should seek shelter. Sweets and physical activity help to produce
body heat.

Treatment
2-88. Treatment methods vary based on the severity of the hypothermia.
Mild cases
2-89. If a Soldier shows symptoms of hypothermia, prevent additional heat loss by getting the victim into a
shelter; removing wet clothing and replacing it with dry, insulated clothing; insulating the victim from the
ground; and sharing a sleeping bag (cover head) to transfer body heat. Make a diagnosis (rectal
temperature). Rehydrate the victim with warm liquids, sweets, and food. If the tactical situation allows,
build a fire. Above all else, keep the victim conscious until his vital signs are normal, and seek medical
assistance. If possible, keep the victim physically active to produce body heat.

26 July 2012

TC 3-97.61

2-17