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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffHypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F (37 C). Hypothermia (hi-po-THUR-me-uh) occurs as your body temperature passes below 95 F (35 C).
When your body temperature drops, your heart, nervous system and other organs cannot work correctly. Left untreated, hypothermia eventually leads to complete failure of your heart and respiratory system and to death.
Hypothermia is most often caused by exposure to cold weather or immersion in a cold body of water. Primary treatments are methods to warm the body back to a normal temperature.
- Hypothermia. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec21/ch319/ch319d.html. Accessed May 6, 2009.
- Ulrich AS, et al. Hypothermia and localized cold injuries. Emergency Medical Clinics of North America. 2004;22:281.
- McCullough L, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of hypothermia. American Family Physician. 2004;70:2325.
- Jurkovich GJ. Environmental cold-induced injury. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2007;87:247.
- Hypothermia: A cold weather hazard. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov. Accessed May 4, 2009.
- Extreme cold: A prevention guide to promote your personal health and safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/guide.asp. Accessed May 4, 2009.
- Winter safety tips. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/decwintertips.cfm. Accessed May 4, 2009.
- Federal requirements and safety tips for recreational boats: Cold water survival. United States Coast Guard. http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/saf_cold.htm. Accessed May 8, 2009.
- Hypothermia and cold water. Canadian Red Cross. http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=15204&tid=024. Accessed May 8, 2009.
