• Login
  • Contact
  • COVID-19
  • Share
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
MedcorMedcorMedcorMedcor
  • About
    • Medcor Health Navigation
    • Leadership
    • Wellness
    • Mission, Vision and Values
  • Services
    • Clinics
    • Telehealth
    • Safety
    • Health Security
  • Resources
    • Health Tips
    • Insights
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Culture
    • Equal Employment and Diversity

Understanding Hypothermia

    Home Health Tips Understanding Hypothermia
    Next Previous
    Understanding Hypothermia

    Understanding Hypothermia

    By Mayuri Bhakta, FNP-BC, Director of Clinical Affairs | Comments are Closed | 2 December, 2020 0

    Hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening condition in which your body temperature drops to dangerously low levels.

    Hypothermia occurs when your body loses more heat than it can produce. Our bodies have ways of adapting to cold temperatures, such as shivering, but they also rely on external measures, such as appropriate clothing and gear, to keep us warm.

    Normal body temperature is around 98.5° F. Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature drops below 95.0° F. If your body temperature drops below normal levels, your body’s systems, like your cardiac system, metabolic system, pulmonary system, and neurologic systems, must work harder to continue to function. Body temperatures that drop to dangerously low levels, below 82° F, can quickly lead to death because the heart, lungs, brain, and other organs stop working.

    What causes hypothermia?

    Exposure to cold air or wind, cold water, or cold environments can cause hypothermia. You can get hypothermia even if you don’t live in extremely cold regions of the world.

    Factors that can put someone at risk for hypothermia include:

    • Being advanced in age, or young children and infants, and not dressed warmly enough, even indoors
    • Staying outdoors for long periods of time (for example, by hunting, hiking, skiing, or being homeless)
    • Wearing clothing that is not warm enough for the environment
    • Wearing wet clothing (like from rain, sweat)
    • Inability to get to a warm, dry environment
    • Drinking alcohol or using illicit drugs
    • Being submerged in cold water
    • Having mental conditions such as dementia
    • Being malnourished
    • Taking certain prescription medications
    • Having a skin condition, like a burn

    What are the symptoms of hypothermia?

    Symptoms of hypothermia include:

    • Shivering
    • Drowsiness, sluggishness
    • Confusion
    • Cold skin
    • Decreased coordination
    • Shallow breathing
    • Slurred speech
    • Loss of shivering (with worsening hypothermia)
    • Loss of consciousness
    • In babies: Bright red, cold skin and very low energy

    What should you do if you suspect hypothermia?

    If you suspect someone is experiencing hypothermia, get help right away by calling 9-1-1. While waiting for help to arrive, gently get the person into a warm, dry environment as soon as possible. As the body temperature drops, brain function also decreases, which can lead to confusion and poor judgment. Help them get out of cold, out of their wet clothes, and into dry clothes or dry blankets. Place blankets around the person, including on the head and neck. If it appears that someone has stopped breathing and/or does not have a pulse, perform rescue breathing and/or CPR until help arrives.

    How do I prevent hypothermia?

    The best way to prevent hypothermia is to be well-prepared.

    • Wear dry, warm clothing when the weather is cold.
    • Don’t drink alcohol outside in cold weather or while boating.
    • Don’t take illicit drugs.
    • Avoid strenuous activities outdoors in cold weather.
    • Stay as dry as possible when outdoors.
    • Wear a life jacket when on a boat.

    This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or to give medical advice. Always consult your primary care provider for healthcare instructions. External links are provided as references and do not indicate an endorsement by Medcor. External links are subject to other sites’ terms of use and privacy policies.

    References

    Hieu Duong, Gaurav Patel, “Hypothermia,” National Center for Biotechnology Information, updated August 10, 2020.

    Michigan Medicine, “Hypothermia and Cold Temperature Exposure,” University of Michigan.

    Mayo Clinic, “Hypothermia,” April 18, 2020.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Prevent Hypothermia & Frostbite,” February 8, 2019.

    Ken Zafren, C Crawford Mechem, “Accidental hypothermia in adults,” UpToDate, updated May 13, 2020.

    Authored by: Mayuri Bhakta

    Share
    cold exposure, confusion, drowsiness, hypothermia, shivering, weather

    Mayuri Bhakta, FNP-BC, Director of Clinical Affairs

    More posts by Mayuri Bhakta, FNP-BC, Director of Clinical Affairs

    Related Post

    • Mindfulness and Meditation for Mental Health

      Mindfulness and Meditation for Mental Health

      By Danielle Olipra

      Mindfulness and meditation are two practices that anyone can use to improve their mood and outlook.

      Share

    • May is Mental Helath Awareness Month

      Mental Health

      By Danielle Olipra

      Remember you’re not alone if you’re struggling to feel your best every day, and keep reading about how to prioritize your mental health.

      Share

    • How to Normalize Mental Health in the Workplace

      How to Normalize Mental Health in the Workplace

      By Sharon Moise, MD, Chief Medical Officer

      May is Mental Health Awareness month and it’s the perfect time to reflect on the past couple of years and how they’ve challenged you because they challenged all of us!

      Share

    • Yoga Do

      Yoga

      By Danielle Olipra

      Improve the health of your body as well as your mind with yoga.

      Share

    • Cold Sores

      Cold Sores

      By Danielle Olipra

      If you have a cold sore, keep your chin up and keep reading for tips!

      Share

    NextPrevious

    Health Tip Updates

    Recent Posts

    • Mindfulness and Meditation for Mental Health
    • Mental Health
    • How to Normalize Mental Health in the Workplace
    • Yoga
    • Cold Sores
    Medcor
    Medcor provides health navigation through integrated services that include onsite and mobile clinics, injury triage, telemedicine, and safety staffing and training. Medcor helps employers and their employees navigate the complexities of healthcare to achieve better physical and financial outcomes across the United States and Canada.

    Recent Health Tips

    • Mindfulness and Meditation for Mental HealthMindfulness and Meditation for Mental Health
      May 25, 2022
    • May is Mental Helath Awareness MonthMental Health
      May 18, 2022
    • How to Normalize Mental Health in the WorkplaceHow to Normalize Mental Health in the Workplace
      May 11, 2022

    Insights

    • Zero ToleranceZero Tolerance: A Failed Paradigm
      February 24, 2022
    • Work-from-Home Ergonomic Considerations for EmployersWork-from-Home Ergonomic Considerations for Employers
      November 9, 2021
    • EXECUTIVE PHYSICIAN CONSULTING SERVICESHealthier Business: Executive Physician Consulting Services
      September 8, 2021

    Contact Us

    HQ Location
    4805 Prime Parkway
    McHenry, IL 60050

    Postal Address
    P.O. Box 550
    McHenry, IL 60051

    Call

    HQ: (815) 363-9500
    Sales: (888) 295-5180
    Media: (815) 759-5442

    Email

    Sales: sales@medcor.com
    Job Inquiry: recruiters@medcor.com
    Media: media@medcor.com
    Website Manager: websupport@medcor.com
    Copyright©2022 Medcor, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Legal Notices: Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents, Terms of Use & Privacy | English | Spanish. Healthcare Privacy Policy | English | Spanish
    • About
      • Medcor Health Navigation
      • Leadership
      • Wellness
        • Eat Real Food
        • Get Your Sleep
        • Handle Your Hygiene
        • Mind Your Happiness
      • Mission, Vision and Values
    • Services
      • Clinics
      • Telehealth
      • Safety
      • Health Security
    • Resources
      • Health Tips
      • Insights
      • Technology
    • Contact
      • Existing Customer Services
      • General Information
      • Job Inquiries
      • Media & Public Relations
    • Careers
      • Culture
      • Equal Employment and Diversity
      • Interview and Hiring Process FAQs
      • Apply
    • COVID-19
    Medcor