When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and won't be able to do anything about it.

If you notice signs of hypothermia, take the person's temperature. If it is below 95°, the situation is an emergency—get medical attention immediately. Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if available. Or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets. Warm beverages can help increase the body temperature, but do NOT give alcoholic beverages.

Mild hypothermia where the body core temperature is greater than 90F can be treated by warming the person up. This can be exercise, replacing of wet clothing with dry clothing, getting to a warm place, getting the victim out of the wind, etc. One way of treating hypothermia in the field is to strip the clothes off of the victim and place them into a sleeping bag with one or two other stripped people. This provides the victim with a source of heat that will gradually warm them up.

Used alone, hypothermia is not an acceptable method of anesthesia. It can be utilized for restraint or sedation. For surgical procedures pharmacologic agents (e.g. benzocaine) are used in combination with hypothermia.

Hypothermia is only acceptable for use in neonatal mice (neonatal ectotherms) and in that situation is usually only used prior to euthanasia by some other method. Hypothermia is not an acceptable method in older rodents.

Be prepared. Wear clothing that is appropriate for immersion in the water and not the air temperature. Eat properly to keep your energy levels up, get enough rest and drink enough water to maintain proper hydration. Fatigue and dehydration help to induce hypothermia when exposed to cold. Most kayakers that get hypothermia did not expect to end up in the water. Be prepared for cold water immersion when paddling on cold water.

Yes! Hypothermia, a condition where your body loses heat faster than it can supply it, is an ever present danger in cold climates. This condition can result with cold ambient temperatures between 30 and 60 degrees F, especially when accompanied by wind or rain. More...

Since half of your body heat can be lost through your head, a warm hat is an effective hypothermia preventer. Clothing insulates by trapping air close to the body. Layering traps more air than single garments. Since water is an efficient heat conductor, fabrics that keep you dry or insulate when wet are the best all around for people exposed to wet and cold environments. Insulation values vary with the type of material and the presence of water.