Abstract

Accidental hypothermia is defined as a body temperature lower than 35° C (95° F) in otherwise healthy individuals, resulting from excessive exposure to cold. Any thin person immersed in water around the British Isles for several hours, even in summer, is liable to suffer a dangerous degree of body cooling, and accidental hypothermia is the commonest cause of death after shipwreck.^{1 2} Hill walkers who lose their way or collapse from exhaustion may die of cold.³ Infants⁴ and some old people⁵ are particularly liable to hypothermia as they are less well able to conserve heat.