safety physical_safety ai_generated true

AI tells a hiker to treat mild hypothermia by giving alcohol (whiskey, brandy) or coffee to warm up, or to rub the person's extremities

ID: safety/hypothermia-alcohol-myth

Also available as: JSON · Markdown · 中文
92%Fix Rate
89%Confidence
1Evidence
2024-05-12First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
Wilderness Medical Society Hypothermia Guidelines 2024 active — — —
American Heart Association Hypothermia Treatment 2023 active — — —
CDC Hypothermia Prevention 2024 active — — —

Root Cause

Alcohol causes peripheral vasodilation (widening of blood vessels near the skin), which increases heat loss from the core, worsening hypothermia. Caffeine is a diuretic and can cause dehydration, which impairs thermoregulation. Rubbing extremities can cause cold blood to rush to the core, leading to afterdrop (further core temperature drop) and potential cardiac arrest.

generic

中文

酒精会导致外周血管扩张（皮肤附近血管变宽），从而增加核心热量流失，加重低体温症。咖啡因是利尿剂，会导致脱水，进而损害体温调节。搓揉四肢会导致冷血涌向核心，引起后降（核心温度进一步下降）和潜在的心脏骤停。

Official Documentation

https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/staysafe/hypothermia.html

Workarounds

  1. 90% success For mild hypothermia (shivering, alert), move the person to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, and provide warm (not hot) sweet drinks (e.g., warm apple juice, sports drink) and high-energy foods. Example: 'Get the person out of wind and rain. Give them warm, sugary drinks like hot chocolate or warm juice. Do not give alcohol or caffeine.' 
    For mild hypothermia (shivering, alert), move the person to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, and provide warm (not hot) sweet drinks (e.g., warm apple juice, sports drink) and high-energy foods. Example: 'Get the person out of wind and rain. Give them warm, sugary drinks like hot chocolate or warm juice. Do not give alcohol or caffeine.'
  2. 85% success Use passive external rewarming: wrap the person in blankets, sleeping bags, or a vapor barrier (e.g., plastic wrap) to trap body heat. Place warm (not hot) water bottles or chemical heat packs on the armpits, groin, and neck. Example: 'Wrap the person in a sleeping bag with a warm water bottle (wrapped in cloth) in the armpits. Do not rub extremities.' 
    Use passive external rewarming: wrap the person in blankets, sleeping bags, or a vapor barrier (e.g., plastic wrap) to trap body heat. Place warm (not hot) water bottles or chemical heat packs on the armpits, groin, and neck. Example: 'Wrap the person in a sleeping bag with a warm water bottle (wrapped in cloth) in the armpits. Do not rub extremities.'
  3. 95% success If the person is unconscious or not shivering (severe hypothermia), call 911 immediately. Handle them gently (no rough movement) and do not give anything by mouth. Use passive rewarming only. Example: 'If the person is unconscious, not shivering, or has a core temperature below 90°F (32°C), call for emergency help. Do not move them roughly; do not give drinks.' 
    If the person is unconscious or not shivering (severe hypothermia), call 911 immediately. Handle them gently (no rough movement) and do not give anything by mouth. Use passive rewarming only. Example: 'If the person is unconscious, not shivering, or has a core temperature below 90°F (32°C), call for emergency help. Do not move them roughly; do not give drinks.'

中文步骤

  1. For mild hypothermia (shivering, alert), move the person to a warm environment, remove wet clothing, and provide warm (not hot) sweet drinks (e.g., warm apple juice, sports drink) and high-energy foods. Example: 'Get the person out of wind and rain. Give them warm, sugary drinks like hot chocolate or warm juice. Do not give alcohol or caffeine.'
  2. Use passive external rewarming: wrap the person in blankets, sleeping bags, or a vapor barrier (e.g., plastic wrap) to trap body heat. Place warm (not hot) water bottles or chemical heat packs on the armpits, groin, and neck. Example: 'Wrap the person in a sleeping bag with a warm water bottle (wrapped in cloth) in the armpits. Do not rub extremities.'
  3. If the person is unconscious or not shivering (severe hypothermia), call 911 immediately. Handle them gently (no rough movement) and do not give anything by mouth. Use passive rewarming only. Example: 'If the person is unconscious, not shivering, or has a core temperature below 90°F (32°C), call for emergency help. Do not move them roughly; do not give drinks.'

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. 90% fail

    Alcohol causes vasodilation, increasing heat loss. It also impairs judgment and coordination, worsening the situation. The feeling of warmth is deceptive.

  2. 85% fail

    Rubbing can cause cold blood from the extremities to flow to the core, causing afterdrop and potentially triggering cardiac arrhythmias. It also damages cold-injured tissue.

  3. 70% fail

    Caffeine is a diuretic, leading to dehydration, which impairs the body's ability to generate heat through shivering. It can also increase heart rate, which may be dangerous in hypothermia.