EUROCRAFT - Hypothermia baths

HYPOTHERMIA - WHAT IS IT?

Hypothermia is generally recognized as the effect of prolonged exposure to cold environments and the essential feature of the condition is a dangerous reduction in the heat content of the body. The normal temperature of the inner body is 36.8ºC with the surface and extremities somewhat lower. A drop of only a few degrees can quickly lead to impaired mental faculties, unconsciousness and eventually death.

WHO GETS IT?

The most usual candidates are sailors and aircrew rescued from the sea, divers, cavers, mountaineers and old people in poorly heated houses in winter. In all these cases the cause is due almost entirely to the cooling effect of the environment.

HOW IS IT TREATED?

In many cases the provision of insulation to prevent further heat loss is only of limited value as many victims are incapable of recovering without application of heat from an external source. Even the localised warming of hands and feet can be counter productive as blood is enticed away from the central core.

Immersion in warm water, under constant supervision, is an ideal treatment as this provides the gentle and all-pervasive warming necessary to establish normal body temperature.

This treatment can now be greatly facilitated with the aid of our Inflatable Hypothermia Bath, strongly made from flexible Hypalon coated Polyester and easily packed away into a space 65cm long x 30cm diameter when not in use. It can be brought out, quickly inflated with the double action hand pump provided and filled with warm water. The inside dimensions of the bath are such that it is big enough to take two victims in a double emergency.

OFFSHORE REGULATIONS

Statutory Instrument No 1019 to Offshore Installation Regulations specifies that every sick bay should be provided with a bath. The Inflatable Bath allows these regulations to be met without taking up much needed space.

In this context, the advantages of the Hypothermia Bath are obvious, not only in terms of space and mobility on rigs, platforms and ships but in temporary rescue camps, expeditions or any situation where a permanent bath is out of the question.

SPECIFICATION