Symptoms of hypothermia

The symptoms of hypothermia can vary depending on how low your body temperature has become.

The early symptoms of hypothermia are often recognised by a parent or carer. This is because it can cause confusion, poor judgement and changes in behaviour, which means the affected person may not realise they have it.

Mild hypothermia

If someone has mild hypothermia (generally with a body temperature of 32-35C), the symptoms aren't always obvious, but they can include:

  • constant shivering
  • tiredness
  • low energy
  • cold or pale skin
  • fast breathing (hyperventilation)

Moderate hypothermia

Moderate cases of hypothermia (generally with a body temperature of 28-32C) can include symptoms such as:

  • being unable to think or pay attention
  • confusion
  • loss of judgement and reasoning (someone with hypothermia may decide to remove clothing despite being very cold)
  • difficulty moving around
  • loss of co-ordination
  • drowsiness
  • slurred speech
  • slow, shallow breathing (hypoventilation)

People with a body temperature of 32C or lower will usually stop shivering completely. This is a sign that their condition is deteriorating andemergency medical help is required.

Severe hypothermia

The symptoms of severe hypothermia (a body temperature of below 28C) can include:

  • unconsciousness
  • shallow or no breathing
  • a weak, irregular pulse,or no pulse
  • dilated pupils

Someone with severe hypothermiamay appear to be dead. However, under these circumstances they must betaken to hospital to determine whether they've died or if they're in a state of severe hypothermia. Medical treatment can still be used to resuscitate people with severe hypothermia,although it's not always successful.

Hypothermia in babies

Babies with hypothermia may look healthy, but their skin will feel cold. They may also be limp, unusually quiet and refuse to feed.

When to seek medical attention

Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you suspect hypothermia.

If you suspect someone has severe hypothermia, dial 999 immediately to request an ambulance.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 5 Jan 2017