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SHARON HOSPITAL
50 Hospital Hill Road
Sharon, CT 06069
LIFE AND HEALTH is published as a community service for
the friends and patrons of SHARON HOSPITAL, 50 Hospi-
tal Hill Road, Sharon, CT 06069, telephone 860.364.4000,
website
sharonhospital.com
.
We invite your feedback on LIFE AND HEALTH, a
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sharonhospital.com or call 860.364.4444.
IT
can happen so gradually—and
under conditions you might not
usually suspect—that you may not
realize what’s going on.
We’re talking about hypothermia,
an abnormally low body tempera-
ture that can be dangerous—even
deadly—if not treated quickly.
Hypothermia
occurs when your
body loses heat
faster than it can
be replaced. e result is a drop in
the body’s temperature, which can
a ect your brain and make you un-
able to think clearly or move well.
Prolonged exposure to cold tem-
peratures can cause hypothermia. But
you can also get it in temperatures over
40 degrees if you become chilled from
rain or sweat. In addition, exposure
to wind or immersion in cold water
can trigger hypothermia. Please teach
children to stay away fromwater and
ice in the winter!
Anyone can develop hypothermia,
but older adults
and infants are
most vulnerable.
Signs and
symptoms of hypothermia include:
w
Slowed, slurred speech.
w
Confu-
sion.
w
Drowsiness.
w
Weak pulse.
w
Shivering.
w
Slow reactions.
w
Poor body control.
Babies with hypothermia may
Space heaters:
Know how to
use them safely
Space heaters can help keep a home
warm, but they can also cause a re if not
used properly.
If you have a portable electric heater,
be sure to follow these safety tips from
the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission:
w
Place the heater on a stable, level
surface.
w
Keep beds, sofas, curtains, papers,
clothing and other combustible materials
at least 3 feet from the front, sides and
rear of the heater.
w
Don’t run the heater’s cord under rugs
or carpets, and don’t use an extension
cord or power strip to operate the heater.
w
Never leave the heater on when you go
to sleep, and always turn it o when you
leave the area.
Please teach children about
staying safe in the winter.
H Y P O T H E R M I A
Don’t get
caught out
in the cold
have bright red, cold skin and very
low energy.
What to do.
If you see someone
with signs of hypothermia, the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Preven-
tion recommends that you:
w
Get the person to a warm place.
w
Remove any wet clothing.
w
Use a blanket or skin-to-skin con-
tact to warm the person.
w
Get him or her medical attention
right away.
For our winter Calendar of Events,
please visit
sharonhospital.com
or call
877.364.4202
.
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