Health and Safety LifeSmarts Practice Test

Hypothermia means the body's core temperature is abnormally low. The normal core temperature is about 98.6°F (37°C); when it drops below roughly 95°F (35°C), the body's heat-regulation system starts to fail and serious problems can occur. It happens from extended exposure to cold, immersion in cold water, or conditions that reduce heat production or increase heat loss. This definition centers on an abnormally low body temperature, not on a fast heartbeat from exercise, a normal temperature, or a high fever from infection.