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Hypothermia is a condition in which the body’s core temperature drops below 95°F. This happens when the body loses heat faster than it can produce. The most at-risk groups for hypothermia are infants and the elderly.
Hypothermia is a medical emergency because you can die from it very quickly. If you or a loved one is experiencing hypothermia in Arizona, call 9-1-1 for immediate care.
If you need to go to the ER, use our InQuicker™ online tool by selecting your estimated hospital arrival time and wait at home until your time to be seen. Upon arrival and check-in, you will see a doctor who will assess your situation and determine the next appropriate level of care.
The symptoms of hypothermia develop slowly over a period of time. In many cases, people with hypothermia do not even realize it is happening.
Common hypothermia symptoms include:
In cases of severe hypothermia, a person will stop shivering and may start to feel too warm. At this point, the person may show irrational behavior, such as removing clothing. Without immediate treatment, the person will lose consciousness and die.
Hypothermia is caused when the body loses heat faster than it can create. The most common causes of hypothermia are:
In the event that someone around you is experiencing hypothermia, follow these first aid steps:
At Dignity Health, emergency doctors offer the following treatments for hypothermia:
You can take steps to prevent hypothermia by avoiding overexertion, choosing and wearing the right layers of clothing, keeping your head covered in cold weather, staying dry, and changing out of wet clothes as soon as possible.
Dignity Health’s emergency departments and urgent care centers can quickly diagnose and treat all stages of hypothermia in Arizona.