Hypothermia First-Aid Kit

Hypothermia is a real thing in our part of the world.  It is actually more likely to happen on a Spring or Fall Outing than a Winter Outing, but you should be ready of it.  Scouts get wet and cold in the Spring and Fall.  They lay in the snow and get wet and cold in the Winter.  They can also fall or jump into freezing cold water.

When dealing with a cold stressed or hypothermic Scout, plan to be stationary for a while.  You must be able to keep warm while rewarming your Scout so part of your hypothermia plan and gear list needs to include preventing you from getting hypothermia. 

Hypothermia Kit

Hypothermia Kit should Contain:

• Mylar Blanket 

  • This reflects heat back at a victim 

    • If a victim truly hypothermic, there isn't much heat being reflected back

    • Warping them tightly will help protect against wind and evaporative heat loss

    • Corners can be tied together as needed, but a little duct tape is nice to have

  • A couple of disposable ones are easy to pack, weigh almost nothing and are low priced

  • A reusable mylar blanket can be used for other purposes, such as an overhead tarp, ground cloth or wind block

    • Example: Arcturusgear.com 

• A real Blanket and Tarp are even better

  • Your base kit doesn't need a separate insulation blanket as long as you can use sleeping bags from the victim's or someone else's pack

  • If you are not overnighting, have someone pack a small bag or blanket

    • A military style wool blanket is excellent, but generally too heavy to carry for non-vehicular outings

  • Someone should also pack a tarp to use as a hypothermia wrap

    • A tarp if very useful and generally better than a mylar blanket

• Closed Cell Foam Pad

  • Used to insulate vitim from cold ground

  • Used when sitting or lying on ground

  • If seated, also used to insulate feet from ground

• Extra Clothing for YOU

  • If you are sitting around taking care of a hypothermic victim, you are likely wet and cold too

  • Don't become a victim taking care of a victim

  • You must keep your head and hands warm enough to function properly 

  • One of the first steps you take in treating a hypothermic victim is to put on a jacket

• Sugary Snacks

  • You and the ones you are taking care of need the extra calories

• Warm Brew

  • Bring a drink with sugar such as cocoa, cider or Jell-O

  • Hypothermic victims need sugar to power their metabolism to produce heat

  • They will need warm water to absorb the sugar

  • They are likely dehydrated too

  • Holding a warm brew in your hands feels really good 

• Stove System

  • You must be able to boil up water for drinks and heating bottles

• Heating Bottles

  • Nalgene Bottles work fine

  • Fill with hot water

  • Wrap in clothing 

    • Tubular military style wool scarves are excellent for this, and have many other uses

  • Place against victim's skin or base layer

• Chemical Heat Pads

  • The little ones for your hands do nothing for a hypothermic victim

    • You can use these for their hands if you like

    • If used to warm the body, they won't provide much warming benefit and can cause burns to hypothermic skin

  • Causality Heat Pads

    • We have these, but we are generally close enough to help that these are not needed on an outing

• BICO Card

  • Download, print and laminate 

  • https://www.bicosurvive.com/en/resources/cold-card 

  • While you are www.bicosurvive.com, go ahead and complete the hypothermia course