In just one week of cold weather that enveloped Gaza, six babies across the enclave died of hypothermia.
As Israel continues its attacks on Gaza and its hospitals, its restrictions on what can enter the Palestinian territory mean that access to winter aid and medical interventions also remains limited. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 45,500 people, mostly children and women.
Here’s what you need to know about the disease that has killed several infants and threatens a population of 2.3 million people, most of whom are displaced from their homes and surviving in freezing cold, with insufficient food and clean water. .
What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia, which literally means less than normal heat, is a condition that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it.
The body generally maintains a fixed, warm core temperature of around 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) using various mechanisms, such as metabolic heat production, which includes digestion of food or movement of muscles.
Core temperature should be maintained at approximately this level, between a narrow range of 36.1°C (97°F) and 37.2°C (99°F), depending on the individual, the time of day and activity level. This allows vital organs, such as the brain and heart, to continue functioning properly.
However, when the body can no longer compensate for the heat loss and internal temperatures drop dangerously, the body enters a state of hypothermia.
At what temperature do you suffer from hypothermia?
Hypothermia depends on the body’s core temperature rather than the outside temperature, because it can develop even in milder cold weather, not just freezing weather.
A person can develop hypothermia even at temperatures above 4°C (40°F) if they become cold from rain, wind, or immersion in cold water.
Medically, hypothermia begins when the body’s core temperature drops below 35°C (95°F), about two degrees cooler than average.
The severity of the disease depends on the drop in internal temperature:
- Mild hypothermia: 32-35C (89.6-95F)
- Moderate hypothermia: 28-32C (82.4-89.6F)
- Severe hypothermia: Below 28C (82.4F)
What are its signs and symptoms?
What happens to the body depends on the severity and stage of hypothermia.
When first exposed to cold, the body begins to lose heat through the skin. Wind or water speeds up this process by removing the thin layer of heat around the body.
To conserve heat, blood vessels in the skin constrict, reducing blood flow to the surface. This keeps more heat close to vital organs, but leaves fingers, toes, and other extremities feeling cold and numb.
To generate more heat, the body begins to shiver, and breathing and heart rate increase to pump warm blood to vital organs and support metabolism.
However, mild confusion, clumsiness, and fatigue may occur as the cold begins to affect the brain and muscles.
As cold exposure continues, heat loss outpaces the body’s internal attempts to generate heat and moderate hypothermia sets in. Shivering stops when muscles run out of energy, and a feedback loop makes the situation worse: As metabolism slows, the body produces even less heat.
Heart rate, breathing and metabolic processes slow further as the body tries to conserve energy. As this vicious cycle continues, the gap between heat lost and heat produced widens.
Eventually, the internal temperature drop becomes significant.
The brain’s ability to function deteriorates, leading to loss of consciousness. Cold disrupts the heart’s electrical system, causing irregular rhythms that can lead to cardiac arrest.
Without prompt medical intervention, vital functions can fail completely, resulting in death.
Can we stop hypothermia?
Yes, hypothermia can be stopped if timely action is taken.
Recovering from moderate to mild hypothermia includes moving the person to a warm, dry environment, removing all wet clothing, and covering with blankets to warm the body.
Warm, non-alcoholic drinks may help if the person is conscious.
However, severe hypothermia often requires medical intervention. This includes passive warming with electric blankets or active warming techniques such as giving warm intravenous fluids or warming the blood.
Blood warming involves drawing blood from the body, usually through a large catheter, warming it with a specialized machine and injecting it back into the body.
Are babies more at risk of hypothermia?
Infants are at higher risk because their bodies lose heat more quickly than those of adults.
This is because their bodies are shaped differently. Compared to adults, they have more skin (surface area) for their size (body mass). This means they lose heat more quickly through their skin, especially in cold environments. Since their small bodies can’t produce heat as efficiently as adults’, they are at higher risk of becoming too cold.
They may also not show obvious signs of cold stress, making it more difficult to recognize hypothermia.
Severe malnutrition also increases the risk of hypothermia. Restrictions on the entry of food and medicine into Gaza, since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, mean that the enclave has been experiencing conditions close to famine for a year.
What are the current temperatures in Gaza?
During the last week of December 2024, temperatures ranged between approximately 19°C and 20°C (66°F and 68°F) and nighttime minimum temperatures between 11°C and 12°C (52°F and 54°F). °F).
However, the current winter in Gaza is harsh for those living in tents or without adequate shelter, as heavy rains and strong winds have destroyed temporary coverings, soaking clothes and blankets.
With limited access to oil, electricity or gas heating due to Israel’s harsh restrictions, many residents resort to felling trees to obtain firewood for warmth and cooking.
How cold is it in Gaza and does it snow?
During the winter months, particularly January, average low temperatures can drop to around 9 °C (45 °F), with daytime high temperatures near 18 °C (65 °F).
Although winters in the panhandle are not extremely harsh, heavy downpours and its coastal location can make it cooler. December and January are also the wettest months in Gaza.
It does not usually snow in Gaza, but rare cases of snow have been reported in the past, such as in December 2013.
