By Mondell Keck | The Brookings Register
BROOKINGS — A 23-year-old man from Milbank is in a Sioux Falls hospital after being found outdoors in Brookings suffering from exposure and hypothermia on the morning of Feb. 21.
According to information from Brookings Police Department Chief Michael Drake, the man was in the alley between Third Street and Front Street. The 911 call came in at 7:31 a.m.
“Officers arrived on the scene and assisted Brookings Ambulance,” he wrote.
Drake told The Brookings Register on Feb. 22 that the man wasn’t a student at South Dakota State University, nor was he affiliated with the university. Drake further noted that the man was living with friends in Milbank.
Following initial treatment at the Brookings Health System, Drake said the man was transferred to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls for additional care.
What is hypothermia?
According to the Mayo Clinic, which is based out of Rochester, Minnesota, hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when the body’s temperature — which is normally 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit — drops below 95 degrees. Essentially, the body loses heat faster than it can produce it.
“When body temperature drops, the heart, nervous system and other organs can’t work as well as they usually do,” per information on the clinic’s website. “Left untreated, hypothermia can cause the heart and respiratory system to fail and eventually can lead to death.”
Exposure to cold weather or immersion in cold water are common causes of hypothermia, whose symptoms include:
- Shivering
- Slurred speech or mumbling
- Slow, shallow breathing
- Weak pulse
- Clumsiness or lack of coordination
- Drowsiness or very low energy
- Confusion or memory loss
- Loss of consciousness
- In infants, bright red, cold skin
According to the clinic, people should call 911 or a local emergency number if it’s suspected someone has hypothermia.
“While waiting for emergency help to arrive, gently move the person inside if possible,” the clinic wrote on its website. “Jarring movements can trigger dangerous irregular heartbeats. Carefully remove any wet clothing and replace it with warm, dry coats or blankets.”
— Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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