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Alternative Names Return to top
Low body temperature; Cold exposureDefinition Return to top
Hypothermia is dangerously low body temperature, below 95°F (35°C).
Considerations Return to top
People most likely to experience hypothermia include:
Causes Return to top
Hypothermia occurs when more heat is lost than the body can generate. It is usually caused by extended exposure to the cold.
Common causes include:
Symptoms Return to top
As people develop hypothermia, their abilities to think and move are often lost slowly. In fact, they may even be unaware that they need emergency treatment. Someone with hypothermia also is likely to have frostbite.
The symptoms include:
Lethargy, cardiac arrest, shock, and coma can set in without prompt treatment. Hypothermia can be fatal.
First Aid Return to top
DO NOT Return to top
When to Contact a Medical Professional Return to top
Call 911 anytime you suspect someone has hypothermia. Give first aid while awaiting emergency assistance.
Prevention Return to top
Before you spend time outside in the cold, DO NOT drink alcohol or smoke. Drink plenty of fluid and get adequate food and rest.
Wear proper clothing in cold temperatures to protect your body. These include:
Avoid:
References Return to top
Danzl DF. Accidental hypothermia. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo: London: Mosby; 2006: chap. 138.
Update Date: 6/9/2008 Updated by: John E. Duldner, Jr., MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Director of Research, Department of Emergency Medicine Akron General Medical Center and Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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