Unlike trauma or bleeding, hypothermia doesn’t always look dramatic.<\/p>
Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing the core temperature to drop below the normal range (average around 37\u00b0C; hypothermia is defined as a core temperature of 35\u00b0C or lower).<\/p>
As the body cools, its systems begin to slow down, leading to reduced mental function, loss of coordination, and eventually unconsciousness.<\/p>
Hypothermia has three key stages, each requiring a different level of response.<\/p> 1. Mild Hypothermia<\/strong><\/p> At this stage, the body is still fighting back. Shivering is vigorous, blood vessels constrict to conserve heat, and the casualty is usually alert and able to move.<\/p> Symptoms include:<\/strong><\/p> What to do:<\/strong><\/p> 2. Moderate Hypothermia<\/strong><\/p> As the body cools further, shivering stops\u2014this is actually a very bad sign. Brain function deteriorates, and body movements become clumsy or slow. The victim may appear drowsy or confused.<\/p> Symptoms include:<\/strong><\/p> What to do:<\/strong><\/p> 3. Severe Hypothermia<\/strong><\/p> In this advanced stage, the victim may appear unconscious, unresponsive, or even “dead.” Breathing and heartbeat are significantly slowed, and the risk of cardiac arrest is high.<\/p> Symptoms include:<\/strong><\/p> What to do:<\/strong><\/p> II. The Danger of Rewarming Shock<\/strong><\/p> Rapidly rewarming the limbs of a severely hypothermic casualty can be fatal.<\/p> This causes cold blood from the extremities to rush back to the core, triggering rewarming collapse or ventricular fibrillation (a life-threatening heart rhythm problem).<\/p> Always focus on slow, passive rewarming and limit movement.<\/p> III. How to Prevent Hypothermia in the Mountains<\/strong><\/p> IV. Special Case: Immersion Hypothermia<\/strong><\/p> Immersion cooling occurs when a person suddenly falls into cold water\u2014whether while crossing a river, falling from a sea cliff, or capsizing a canoe.<\/p> Water transfers heat 25 times faster than air, so the body cools rapidly.<\/p> Within minutes, even a strong swimmer can lose the ability to coordinate movements or keep their head above water.<\/p> Main dangers include:<\/strong><\/p> What to do:<\/strong><\/p> Immersion cooling requires a rapid but cautious response\u2014rushing rewarming or evacuation without proper handling can cause more harm.<\/p> If you are out near cold water hazards or leading groups in coastal or river terrain, this scenario should be part of your planning and training.<\/p> V. Summary: Hypothermia is Often Silent<\/strong><\/p> Unlike trauma or bleeding, hypothermia doesn’t always look dramatic.<\/p> It often creeps in\u2014clouding judgment, draining energy, and robbing people of the ability to save themselves.<\/p> But with the right knowledge and preparation, you can stop it before it becomes life-threatening.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the mountains, cold is more than just discomfort\u2014it can be dangerous. Hypothermia can creep up on you, especially when<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":11977,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[106],"tags":[263,267,264],"class_list":["post-11976","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-expert-advice","tag-advanced-skills","tag-practical-experience","tag-safety-knowledge"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"1\"](\"https:\/\/aokwit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/aqhxj-m1c0z.001.png\")
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