Hypotermia: Professional Killer

By Boris Stermotich

Hypothermia: The Professional Killer in the Wild (And How to Beat It)

They call me Hypothermia. I am born insidiously inside your body when it is cold, drained, and losing heat faster than it can produce it. I thrive on cold, wind, and moisture. In water, I am a master of my craft—I steal your body heat up to 30 times faster than in the air. My goal is to introduce you to death, just as I do with thousands of people around the world every year.

In the US alone, I claim over a thousand lives annually.

How do you recognize me?

Fortunately for you, I am easy to spot. These are the three stages that, if not stopped in time, lead to certain death. Your best chance is to stop me at the very beginning—especially if you are alone.

The 3 Stages of Hypothermia

Stage 1: Mild Hypothermia (37°C – 35°C)

Your engine—your body—normally runs at 36.8°C. As it cools down towards 35°C, your survival instincts kick in.

Symptoms: You start to shiver uncontrollably as your muscles spasm to generate heat. You feel cold, especially in your extremities (hands and feet). Your breathing becomes fast and shallow.
The Danger: If you don't act now, your ability to save yourself will rapidly vanish.

Stage 2: Moderate Hypothermia (Below 35°C)

Your core temperature has dropped below 35°C.

Symptoms: You are shivering violently—so hard that if you try to light a match, it breaks in your hand. You lose muscle control and coordination. You feel tired, confused, euphoric, or drunk.
Paradoxical Undressing: You might suddenly feel a false sensation of extreme heat and start taking off your clothes. You may hallucinate. Your skin turns pale, and your lips turn blue. Your muscles begin to fail.
The Reality: You can no longer help yourself. You need someone else to save you.

Stage 3: Severe Hypothermia (Below 32°C)

Your temperature drops below 32°C.

Symptoms: Shivering stops completely (a very bad sign). You cannot use your hands. Your pulse slows down, and breathing becomes barely noticeable. Your body takes on the temperature of the environment.
The Reality: You are slowly dying. Immediate hospitalization is required.

How to Prevent Hypothermia (Survival Protocol)

If you don't want to meet me, you must follow strict rules:

Layer Up: Dress in layers. Trap warm air inside your clothes.
Stay Dry: Moisture is the enemy. Do not sweat. If you start sweating, remove layers immediately. You must remain dry at all costs.
Protect Key Areas: Cover your head, neck, and extremities—this is where you lose the most heat.
Fuel the Fire: In cold conditions, eat high-calorie food and stay hydrated.
Be Prepared: Always carry a reliable fire source and tinder. Stay away from wind and damp areas.

Treatment Protocol by Stages

STAGE 1 (37°C - 35°C) - Self-Rescue Possible

In this phase, you have a good chance of saving yourself.

Remove yourself from the source of the cold (wind/water).
Generate Heat: Move and exercise (but do not sweat!).
Insulate: Loosen tight clothing and add layers. Trap warm air by stuffing your clothes with dry leaves, newspaper, or dry grass. Cover your head and neck.
Intake: Drink warm, sweet liquids. Light a fire if possible.
Body Heat: There are no taboos in survival—huddle with another person for warmth.

STAGE 2 (35°C - 32°C) - Assisted Rescue Required

You will struggle to save yourself; you need help.

Shelter: Move the victim away from the cold immediately.
Gradual Warming: Warm them up slowly, never aggressively.
External Heat: Apply heat sources (another human body, warm stones wrapped in cloth, or warm water bottles) to the core areas (groin, armpits, chest).
Do Not: Do not give them alcohol (absolutely forbidden). Do not massage the limbs or put them in a hot shower (this can cause shock/heart failure).

STAGE 3 (32°C - 28°C) - Critical

Emergency: Be prepared for CPR (resuscitation).
Evacuation: Immediate hospitalization is the only option.

How Does Our Body Lose Heat?

I am sure many believe that the body loses heat exclusively when in a cold environment via radiation. While radiation is indeed one of the primary mechanisms of heat loss, it is not the only one.

Significantly more heat is lost through conduction—that is, the transfer of heat from a warm body to a cold surface through direct contact (a fundamental law of physics).

This is why we insist on building a good bed. Gruesome studies conducted on prisoners during World War II proved that a naked human body lying on an aluminum sheet placed on snow drains body heat so rapidly that death occurs within 20 minutes. Lying on the ground without insulation will surely lead to the same final destination.

Right alongside conduction is the equally important convection—heat loss through the movement of air (wind) and water.

It is crucial to know that heat is transferred (lost) in water up to 30 times faster than in the air. Furthermore, wind at a speed of 30 km/h can reduce an outside temperature of +5°C to an effective -5°C. This is known as the wind chill effect(see table below).

In water, under certain extreme cold conditions, hypothermia can set in within just 15 minutes.

This is exactly why our Stipe was not allowed to sweat. When going to sleep—you must be dry at all costs!

Wind Chill Index

Unlike air temperature, there is no universally accepted standard for the wind chill index; consequently, multiple formulas exist for its calculation. All of these formulas aim to accurately predict the effect wind has on the human perception of temperature (how cold it actually feels). Meteorological services across various countries employ their own standards tailored to their specific nation or region.

The first formulas and tables for wind chill were developed by Paul Allman Siple and Charles Passel prior to World War II during their work in Antarctica, although they only came into general use in the 1970s. These were based on the rate at which water froze in a small plastic bottle suspended from a roof at the same height as an anemometer. This so-called wind chill index proved to be a fairly reliable indicator of the severity of the weather.

Wind Chill Chart (Calculation of perceived cold on skin)

Did You Know?

Hypothermia is often most prevalent in the temperature range of +5°C to -5°C (41°F to 23°F). Its onset usually requires three factors that often occur together: cold, wetness, and wind—known as the "Hypothermia Triangle." These three components combined can significantly increase the risk, especially if a person is not adequately protected from the elements or is unable to maintain their body temperature within normal limits.

Survival Instructor’s Tip:

Hypothermia is the leading cause of death in the wild. It strikes unexpectedly, often in the dead of night, when we have no time to escape it because we lack a roof over our heads and the means (or knowledge) to start a fire.

The only true salvation from hypothermia is adequate shelter and fire.

Someone might correct me and say that the real lifesaver is "proper gear." I agree—but here we are discussing the unexpected, the unplanned. We are talking about situations where you didn't plan a camping trip with friends just a few meters from your car. We are talking about survival scenarios because, as the old saying goes: "Shit always happens when you least expect it."

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