How can you tell if someone has hypothermia? If a person says he or she is unusually cold, check their temperature with a thermometer. Older people may be reluctant to complain, or are unaware of how serious the cold can be. Look for these signs of hypothermia:
- Confusion or sleepiness
- Slowed, slurred speech, or shallow breathing
- Weak pulse; low blood pressure
- A change in behavior during cold weather or a change in the way a person looks
- Excess shivering or no shivering; stiffness in the arms or legs
- Chilly rooms or other signs that the person has been in a cold place
- Poor control over body movements or slow reactions
To figure out whether someone is suffering from hypothermia, take his or her temperature with a thermometer. First shake the thermometer to below its lowest point. Then, if the temperature appears to be below 96° F (35.5° C) or it can’t be read on an oral thermometer, take the person's temperature again using a rectal thermometer for a more exact reading. If the thermometer still does not show the temperature or is below 96 degrees F, call for emergency help. The only way to tell accurately if a person has hypothermia is to use a special thermometer that can read temperatures below 94° F (34° C). Most hospitals have these thermometers.
