Hypothermia is where the body temperature drops to a dangerously low level, preventing the body from operating properly.

People who spend lots of time outside such as those who participate in skiing, mountaineering, walking, and water sports are considered to be more at risk of suffering from hypothermia.

Some indications of hypothermia beginning to set in out:

- Initially, involuntary shivering, loss of complex motor skills (but still able to walk and talk), shutdown of blood vessels in the hands and feet.
- As temperature falls below 35°C (95°F), violent shivering, impaired consciousness, loss of fine-motor coordination, especially in the hands, slurred speech, illogical behaviour, loss of emotional cognition - an 'I don't care' attitude.
- As core temperature falls below 34°C (92°F), the effects becomes life threatening, shivering become intermittent and then stops, the person curls into the foetal position, muscles become rigid, pupils dilate, pulse rate drops.
- By 30°C (86°F) the person looks dead. Although still alive, they're in a state known as the 'metabolic icebox', breathing becomes shallow and erratic, consciousness is lost and the heart becomes vulnerable to deadly arrhythmias.

Taking some precautions will aid the prevention of hypothermia:

- Wear suitable clothing if outside, ensure that your body is properly insulated
- Take into account the wind chill which may be present as well as outside temperatures
- Stay dry, when temperatures are particularly low
- Remain dehydrated
- Stay away from alcohol which aggravates heat loss