Six victims of frost hospitalized

Four persons were hospitalized with general hypothermia, while two persons, including a minor, with frostbitten hands. Evelina Rusu, coordinating doctor at the Chisinau Emergency Hospital, has told Info-Prim Neo that only one person of those hospitalized is homeless. The 69-year-old guard of the garages situated on Negru Voda St was discovered sleeping outside after drinking a large quantity of alcohol. A man aged 55 suffered general hypothermia in his own house in Vaduleni commune that forms part of Vadul lui Voda town. The man wasn't heating the house. A 74-year-old woman living on Andrei Doga St was found with general hypothermia on Ginta Latina St, where she was begging. An inebriated man, 39, was found sleeping in a trolleybus station on Dacia Blvd. A 15-year-old minor from Sangera town was taken to the children's hospital “Emilian Cotaga” with frostbitten toes. A homeless person aged 48 was rushed to the hospital with the frostbitten feet that were turning black. He was found on Costiujeni St. Hypothermia is a condition in which body temperature drops below 35.0 °C. The signs and symptoms vary depending on the degree of hypothermia. Mild hypothermia initially presents with excitation (shivering, hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, and vasoconstriction), all physiological responses to preserve heat. Cold diuresis, mental confusion, hyperglycemia, as well as hepatic dysfunction may also present. Treatment ranges from noninvasive, passive external warming, to active external rewarming and active core rewarming. In severe cases resuscitation begins with simultaneous removal from the cold environment and concurrent management of the airway, breathing, and circulation. Rapid rewarming is than commenced. A minimum of patient movement should be attempted as aggressive handling may increase risks of dysrhythmia. Forecasters say the weather will become warmer the next days, but the frost will remain rather sharp.