How alcohol-based physical hypothermia works

Alcohol physical hypothermia, refers to the use of 75% alcohol with a small amount of warm water, and then dipped in a towel, wipe the patient’s bilateral neck, palms of the hands, feet, the roots of the thighs, as well as the armpits and other parts of the large blood vessels travel. Adults can use it, not suitable for infants and young children as well as the elderly and infirm. In general, if the patient has an elevated body temperature, between 37 ℃ ~ 38 ℃, you can consider the use of physical cooling methods to lower the temperature. Available 75% alcohol with a small amount of water, but not directly use 75% medical alcohol, because the concentration of this alcohol is too high, large areas can stimulate the skin, absorbing a large amount of epidermal water. Need to be diluted with warm water 2 to 3 times, so that the concentration of alcohol is about 25% to 30% or so. After dipping a towel into it, wipe the patient’s armpits, chest and back, bilateral neck, hands and feet, and the roots of the thighs and other areas where blood vessels travel. The skin in these areas is thin and rich in blood vessels. After wiping, the alcohol will take away some of the heat as it evaporates, thus helping the patient to dissipate heat. It should be noted that the alcohol physical cooling, must be wary of too high a concentration of skin irritation, and alcohol cooling is not suitable for infants and young children, as well as the elderly and frail, these people are prone to skin allergies and other uncomfortable symptoms.