What are early signs of hypothermia to watch for?

• A. Fever and sweating.
• B. Nausea.
• C. Headache.
• D. Shivering, numbness, confusion, slurred speech, and slowed movements.

Answer: (D)

Early signs of hypothermia show the body trying to protect itself from cold and the brain beginning to function more slowly as core temperature drops. The clearest early indicators are shivering (the body's main heat-producing reflex), numbness in the hands or feet, and changes in mental status such as confusion, slurred speech, and noticeably slowed movements. These signs reflect both peripheral cooling of the nerves and central slowing of brain function due to the cold. Fever and sweating aren’t typical early clues of hypothermia; fever points to infection, and sweating is more associated with heat illness. Nausea or headaches can occur with cold exposure but don’t define the early hypothermia picture. If you notice these signs in a cold environment, move the person to warmth, replace wet clothes with dry ones, insulate, and seek medical help as needed to prevent the situation from worsening.