Conditions
On average, 1,300 people die every year in the United States from excessive cold. Know how to spot signs of hypothermia so you can get the help you (or a loved one) needs quickly.
What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia is an abnormally low body temperature after your body loses heat from exposure to the cold. The tricky part is that it comes on so gradually that many people have no idea that they’re experiencing signs of hypothermia, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Once your body temp falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, you need emergency help; otherwise, hypothermia can be fatal. It’s just one of the 10 ways winter can kill you.
Skipped-Over Sign: Drowsiness
Some of the common signs of hypothermia include shivering, a weak pulse, or shallow breathing. But once mild hypothermia begins to take hold, you may also appear sleepy. If you—or someone you’re with—becomes sluggish in the bitter cold and you just want to lie down, you’re in serious danger. By the way, there’s a group at risk of hypothermia even indoors: babies and toddlers sleeping in rooms that are too cold (in which case, you won’t even see this warning sign). Keep them adequately warm while following the safe sleeping guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics, including putting them in a sleep sack or wearable blanket.
Skipped-Over Sign: Confusion
Something that makes the signs of hypothermia even tougher to spot is the fact that you can be in denial that there’s even a problem. “One of the paradoxes with hypothermia is that the symptoms can lead to cognitive impairment, which can affect your insight and ability to be self-aware,” says Brad Uren, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School. That’s where the buddy system comes in. Being with a group means you can all keep an eye out for each other, he says.