The Most Vulnerable
Two groups of patients are seen – winter sports and wilderness enthusiasts and urban poor. Factors contributing to the latter group include alcohol, drugs, malnutrition and poor socioeconomic conditions [2]. Deaths in the UK are rare and occur predominantly in the elderly, more often in women than men [3]. In 2017 there were 34 deaths in Scotland that involved hypothermia
This session concentrates on patients with actual or impending cardiopulmonary arrest. The treatment of mild-moderate hypothermia and localised cold injuries are dealt with elsewhere in the curriculum.