LESSON PLAN
Lesson Topic:
Hypothermia
Description of group to be
instructed:
One Star
Syllabus
Subject:
First Aid
Duration:
80
Need for training:
Location:
Classroom
References:
FA Manual
Equipment:
Desks, Chairs, Manuals First Aid Kit,
Whiteboard
Handouts/
Worksheets:
Preparation:
Revised Lesson, Checked SJA Lesson
Plan
Dress
MTP.
Risks/safety:
Fire Exits, any possible injuries
restricting cadets from taking part in
physical activities.
Ser
1
Content
Time
(Mins)
INTRODUCTION
Aim of lesson: By the end of the lesson cadets will be able to:
 Recognize when someone has hypothermia respond
 Appropriately to someone who has hypothermia.
Starter Activity - Ask Cadets how they would identify someone
who is very cold;
 Shivering, cold, pale, dry skin.
 Apathy, disorientation or irrational behaviour.
 Lethargy or impaired responsiveness.
 Slow or shallow breathing.
 Slow and weakening pulse,
 In extreme cases the heart may stop.
Remarks
5
Formation 1 – The cadets
will be sat down making
notes.
Formation 2 – The cadets
will be split off practicing in
small groups.
Main Body – Development
2
a
Explain to the cadets what hypothermia is caused by and what it
is;
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b
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c

This is a condition that develops when the body temp falls
below 35°C, moderate hypothermia can usually be
reversed. Severe hypothermia – when the body temp falls
below 30 °c is often, but not always fatal.
Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposure to the cold.
Moving air has a much greater cooling effect than still air,
so a high “Wind-Chill factor” in cold weather can
substantially increase the risk of a person developing
hypothermia.
Immersion to cold water can cause death from
hypothermia – when surrounded by cold water, the body
can cool up to 30 times faster than in dry air, and body
temp falls rapidly.
Lack of activity, chronic illness and fatigue all increase the
risk; alcohol and drugs can worsen the condition.
Outdoors Treatment

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10
Take the casualty to a sheltered place as quickly as
possible. Shield the casualty from the wind.
Remove and replace any wet clothing if possible; do not
give them your clothes. Make sure their head is covered.
Protect the casualty from the ground; lay them on a thick
layer of dry insulating material, such as pine branches,
heather or bracken.
Put them in a dry sleeping bag – Alternatives; cover in
blankets, newspaper or just wrap him up.
Wrap him in a plastic of foil survival bag.
Call 999/112 or send for emergency help – do not leave
the casualty alone.
To help re-warm a casualty who is full alert, give them
warm drinks and high-energy foods such as chocolate if
available.
Monitor and record vital signs.
15
Formation 1
Indoors treatment
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15
Re-warm the Casualty – cover them with blankets and
warm the room to about 25°C.
Give them a warm drink such as soup and and/or highenergy foods such as chocolate to help rewarm them.
Seek medical advice. Be aware that hypothermia may also
be disguising the symptoms of a serious underlying illness
such as a stroke, heart attack or underactive thyroid gland.
Monitor and record vital signs.
Second half of Det night
Split the cadets off into groups and allow them to make posters
etc on how to treat hypothermia (indoors and outdoors) the
symptoms of hypothermia as well as what it actually is.
Allow them to present these posters to the other cadets. – This
will confirm their knowledge of the lesson.
3
Formation 2.
20
15
CONCLUSION
End of lesson drills –
This lesson you have learnt – How to recognise someone
who has hypothermia as well as being able to effectively
respond to someone who has hypothermia.
Look forward to your next lesson …
Pack any equipment away
5