Question

You are working on a community service project delivering meals to elderly, homebound individuals. It is a blustery winter day that has you running from the van to each front door. As you enter the last home, you notice that it is not much warmer inside the house than it is outside. An elderly woman, bundled in blankets, is sitting as close as possible to a small space heater. You speak to her, introducing yourself and asking how things are, but you get no response. The woman's eyes are glassy as she makes an effort to look at you. She seems weak and exhausted, barely able to keep her head up. You touch her arm, but she does not seem to feel it. What should you do next?

1) Call for medical assistance
2) Leave the house and continue with your other deliveries
3) Offer the woman a warm meal and some blankets
4) Turn up the space heater to warm up the house

Answer 1

In the scenario presented, the correct action is to call for medical assistance immediately due to the signs of potential hypothermia and severe illness in the elderly woman. Additional comfort measures should be secondary to rapid professional intervention.

Step-by-step explanation:

When encountering an elderly individual showing signs of potential hypothermia, weakness, and an inability to respond, the appropriate course of action is to call for medical assistance immediately. This situation suggests that the individual may be suffering from serious illness or exposure to the cold, and urgent medical care is necessary. While offering a warm meal and extra blankets may seem helpful, they are not an adequate response given the severity of the signs presented. Moreover, simply turning up a space heater may not be safe or effective, and could potentially pose a fire hazard if not monitored carefully.

Considering that body heat regulation can be particularly challenging for the elderly, rapid medical intervention is crucial. It's important to stay with the person, providing comfort and reassurance while waiting for emergency services to arrive, and to avoid unnecessary movements that could worsen their condition.