Hypothermia-related deaths--Philadelphia, 2001, and United States, 1999.
Hypothermia is defined as the unintentional lowering of the deep body (core) temperature below 95.0 degrees F (35.0 degrees C). Hypothermia can be mild (90.0 degrees F-<95.0 degrees F [32.2 degrees C-<35.0 degrees C]), moderate (82.5 degrees F-<90.0 degrees F [28.0 degrees C-<32.2 degrees C]), or severe (<82.5 degrees F [<28.0 degrees C]). Common risk factors for hypothermia include exposure to cold while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, altered mental status, and immersion in cold water. During 1979-1998, approximately 700 persons (range: 420-1,024) died annually in the United States from hypothermia; approximately half of these deaths were attributed to extremely cold weather. This report presents three cases of hypothermia-related deaths in Philadelphia during 2001 as examples of risk factors for hypothermia and summarizes information about hypothermia-related deaths in the United States during 1999. Hypothermia deaths are preventable; by avoiding hypothermia, persons also can prevent other adverse health effects of cold weather.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015143:Philadelphia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology