China News Service Client, Beijing, November 22 (Reporter Zhang Ni) The search and rescue headquarters for missing personnel in Ailao Mountain, Yunnan, reported on the 22nd that after full search and rescue, all four geological investigators who had lost contact in Ailao Mountain were found. There were no vital signs.

According to Elephant News, several hospital doctors and senior mountain rescue team members revealed that the most likely cause of the death of the four people in Ailao Mountain was loss of temperature.

  What is hypothermia?

How should people deal with loss of temperature outdoors?

Video screenshot

What is hypothermia?

  Hypothermia, also known as hypothermia, describes the phenomenon when the core temperature of the human body is lower than 35.0°C.

  Generally speaking, hypothermia means that the body's heat loss is greater than the heat supply, which causes the core area of ​​the human body to drop in temperature, and produces a series of symptoms such as chills, confusion, cardiopulmonary failure, and even death.

  There are two main reasons for hypothermia. The first most common reason is exposure to extremely low temperature; the other reason is any kind of mechanism that inhibits the body's heat production or increases the rate of temperature loss.

Under what circumstances is the body prone to hypothermia?

  When exposed to the cold environment for a long time, the human body uses the energy stored in the body when adjusting body temperature, but the heat loss is greater than the heat supply, resulting in loss of temperature or abnormally low body temperature.

  Hypothermia will affect the brain's thinking, resulting in failure to take protective measures in time.

Since people may not realize that temperature loss is occurring and fail to take relevant protective measures in time, this makes temperature loss even more dangerous.

  The temperature loss usually occurs in extremely cold weather, but if it is rained or soaked by cold water in a humid environment, the temperature loss may also occur in the weather of 4 to 5°C.

The picture shows search and rescue team members searching for missing persons.

Photo courtesy of Pu'er Fire Rescue Detachment

Who are the vulnerable people who have lost heat?

  Vulnerable people with loss of temperature include:

  -Elderly people who do not have enough food, clothing or heating equipment;

  ——Baby sleeping in indoor low temperature environment;

  -People staying outdoors for a long time;

  -Wanderers, hikers, etc.;

  -People after drinking.

What are the symptoms of human body after hypothermia?

  According to its severity, hypothermia is divided into three stages: mild, moderate, and severe.

  The first stage (mild hypothermia): body temperature drops to 32℃~35℃.

  At this stage, the human body will tremble, hands numb, unable to complete complex movements; distal limb vasoconstriction to reduce heat loss; fast and shallow breathing; "goose bumps" appear on the skin, it is an attempt to make the hair stand up to form a barrier Thermal layer.

People with hypothermia may feel fatigue and abdominal pain, have difficulty vision, and have abnormal urination.

  Sometimes people with hypothermia feel warm, but in fact this is a signal that hypothermia is about to develop into the second stage.

One way to test the progress of the disease to the second stage is whether the patient can touch the thumb and little finger, which is the first stage when the muscles stop working.

  The second stage (moderate hypothermia): body temperature drops to 28℃~32℃.

  Muscle incoordination is more obvious, and people's actions are slower and more difficult, accompanied by unstable steps and confusion of direction.

The superficial skin blood vessels continue to contract to maintain the temperature of vital organs.

People with hypothermia are pale, and the color of lips, ears, fingers, and toes may turn blue.

Abnormal undressing occurs. This is an imbalance of the body's own regulation mechanism. The surrounding blood vessels that have always contracted dilate, leading to the illusion of "warming up" for a short time.

  The third stage (severe hypothermia): body temperature drops below about 28°C.

  Muscle shaking usually has stopped.

Difficulty in speaking, slow thinking.

The exposed skin turns blue, muscle coordination is almost completely lost, unable to walk, and even coma.

The pulse and breathing are significantly slowed down, and rapid heart rate or atrial fibrillation may occur, eventually leading to cardiopulmonary failure.

Data map: Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia under the background of extreme cold weather.

Photo by Li Aiping

What should I do when my body loses temperature?

  If an adult is found to have chills and collapse; groping hands; memory loss, slurred speech; drowsiness.

Infants and young children who have any of the signs of bright red skin, chills, etc., please take their body temperature in time. If the body temperature is lower than 35°C, seek medical attention immediately.

  When medical treatment is not available right away, please raise your body temperature as follows:

  -Make it enter a warm room or residence;

  ——Take off damp clothes in time;

  -Take relevant measures to warm the core areas of the body-chest, neck, head and groin;

  ——Take hot beverages to help raise body temperature, but not alcoholic beverages, and don’t give it to people who are unconscious.

  —— Seek medical attention as soon as possible after the condition is relieved.

How to avoid loss of temperature?

  ——Be familiar with the local weather conditions in advance, and prepare suitable clothes according to the weather conditions;

  ——If you travel in cold weather, take appropriate measures to prevent wind and avoid exposure to the cold wind.

Warm hats, gloves, snoods, windbreakers, thick socks, windshields, and even goggles are all essential items for traveling in windy and cold weather.

There are too many body organs exposed to the outside, and the greater the wind speed, the body heat will lose accordingly.

  -Outdoor activities in cold weather, keep your body dry, if you get wet, quickly change into dry clothes;

  ——Choose quick-drying underwear and avoid cotton underwear.

Cotton fabrics are very sweat-absorbent and are not easy to export, causing loss of temperature;

  ——Pay attention to the increase or decrease of clothing.

Many people like to wear thick clothes when hiking, for fear that they will catch a cold on the road, and as a result, they will not walk very far. They will get wet with sweat and lose their temperature easily;

  -Carry enough high-calorie food;

  ——Don't let yourself be overdrawn, prevent dehydration, avoid excessive sweating and fatigue, food and hot drinks, and replenish body heat at any time are also very useful methods to prevent hypothermia;

  ——In case of hypothermia, you need to go to the emergency department or burn department for emergency treatment.

(Part of the content is referenced from the official WeChat account of the National Health Commission, etc.) (End)