Moderate Hypothermia

As your body temperature continues to drop, the signs and symptoms of moderate hypothermia include the following:

• Intense shivering that becomes persistent and violent
• Sluggish, labored movements
• Loss of fine motor coordination in the hands (fumbling)
• Confusion
• Slurred speech; difficulty speaking
• Irrational behavior

At this stage of hypothermia, the mental symptoms become more apparent. Victims are often confused and make poor, irrational decisions, such as trying to remove warm clothes. In addition, victims may show signs of depression or apathy. A good monitoring tip is to watch for the "umbles." Check to see if the person stumbles, mumbles, or fumbles.

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