Just some points - I have no doubt IDP knows far more about this than I do:Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
It does not have to be particularly cold/wet for people to develop hypothermia, though of course if it is cold/wet it adds to the risk. Inappropriate clothing is almost always a factor. Wind chill is often under-estimated, as is the effect of slowing down, and just to complicate matters hypoglycemia is a common association. Once hypothermia sets in people may stop shivering, become confused/slow and may not complain of feeling cold. As has been said getting off the mountain and out of the wind are crucial, preferably both. The only heat that should be provided is other people, drinks, and a warm room; heaters/fires/baths/showers/hot water bottles are all no-nos. The risk is cold stale blood returning to the heart and causing dangerous heart rhythms, as well as warm core blood flooding the warmed up tissues, dropping the blood pressure. A near ideal situation in the field would be in a tent, in warm dry clothes, in a double sleeping bag with one person either side of them and a warm sweet drink.
I look forward to IDP's comments.
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