A rare condition with excellent outcome—if treated correctly: examining cardiac arrest from accidental hypothermia

I have been actively involved with accidental hypothermia since 2011, have co-authored several publications, lectured and recently updated the hypothermia section in the JRCALC Clinical Guidelines. I am repeatedly struck by the number of UK health professionals (ambulance and hospital staff) who have little knowledge about accidental hypothermia.

Recently, a paramedic in our area terminated resuscitation attempts on a young man who had a hypothermic arrest, because the man failed to respond after 20 minutes.

This should not happen. It is wrong to treat hypothermic arrest like a normothermic arrest.

We enclose a case report, which is short but that demonstrates that a good outcome is possible if people know what they are doing.

I would therefore be extremely grateful if you could squeeze it into the Journal of Paramedic Practice, as it is very relevant to the readership. Patients may not survive hypothermia, but they shouldn't die because paramedics don't know what to do.