Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a condition that is caused by a severe reduction of body's core temperature, usually due to long-term exposure exposure to cold weather, snow or cold water. This is considered initially to be a life-saving response that concentrates blood flow to the organs by reducing flood flow to the limbs. However, when the core temperature falls too far death is the result.

Interestingly, young children are better able to survive hypothermia with documented cases of children surviving lengthy stays in cold water and/or with body temperatures that have dropped as far as 55.4 degrees F.