HYPOTHERMIA

A drop in body temperature leaving the elderly and young children at risk

Due to the drop in temperature, a number of elderly people have been rushed to the A&E Department suffering from hypothermia, with doctors describing them as being “ice cold” and confused.

Family members said their rooms or houses lacked any sort of heating aside from a blanket or two.

Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F, and hypothermia occurs when it falls below 95 F, which can risk leading to heart failure. Mater Dei’s Medical Director Walter Busuttil highlighted the reasons why cases of hypothermia affect mostly the elderly and how there needs to be more awareness on the topic.

“A lot of people, even medical staff have this perception that it is impossible to suffer from hypothermia in Malta,” Busuttil said.

He said many assume that hypothermia is only common in areas where there is snow or temperatures are below zero, or that a person would suffer from hypothermia if they fell in an icy cold lake, but the reason is much closer to home. “A major problem we have in Malta is that our houses, offices and even schools are built to keep the heat out, and in winter are very cold and humid” he said, besides the fact that older buildings have no double glazing or means of insulation.

He explained that young children and the elderly are more likely to suffer from hypothermia; children because they have large body surface area, compared to their weight and lose heat very quickly. He said babies are kept in incubators to

keep them warm. The elderly, who are more exposed to certain diseases such as hyperthyroidism, which slows down the thyroid, can lead to a higher risk of suffering hypothermia. He explained that older people are less likely to exercise, possibly live in a cold house alone and not doing much and are more likely to get influenza or chest infections, which can lead to hypothermia. A very bad case is when an elderly person who lives alone falls on the floor and is unable to get up. S/he could lie on the cold floor for a long time before anyone came to help him/her. By then the person would be suffering after being exposed to cold temperatures.

Necessary change in mentality among the elderly

Busuttil said that apart from being more prone to illnesses, many elderly do not turn on any heating, due to the increase in gas or electricity bills.

“When you spend a week in hospital because you are unwell, it costs you much more than heating up your house,” he explained.

There needs to be a change in mentality when it comes on how to deal with the cold; Busuttil said that no one would even consider buying thermal clothes unless travelling to a country where there is snow. Small ac- tions like turning on the heating and taking care of ourselves can reduce the risk of hypothermia; especially when people do not even realise that they are losing so much body heat. Change is slowly happening; houses being built now do have double-glazing on apertures which seal in heat.

When a patient comes in suffering from hypothermia or a drop in body temperature, Busuttil says that is important to treat it slowly and stabilise the body temperature. They have equipment such as space blankets, which keep the patient’s own body temperature and a type of equipment called a Bair hugger; which has a fan attached inside a blanket which gradually blows warm air in the blanket to warm up the patient. He said that if you were to increase the body temperature drastically and quickly, it would put the patient in a more dangerous and life-threatening situation, and in the worst case the risk of heart problems.

The Health Department issues warnings when temperatures drop so that people will know they have to wear warm clothes, drink warm fluids, increase their intake of carbohydrates and exercise, together with other ways of keeping warm.