The ambient temperature must be below freezing for hypothermia to occur.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not enough data
• D. Always

Answer: (B)

Hypothermia happens when the body's core temperature drops below about 95°F (35°C) because heat loss exceeds heat production. You don’t need air to be below freezing for this to occur—getting wet, windy, or otherwise exposed, or spending long periods in cold water, can drive heat loss even when the air is above freezing. Insufficient clothing, immersion, or impaired heat production (age, illness, malnutrition) can all raise the risk. So the ambient temperature being below freezing is not required for hypothermia to develop.