Prepare for your First Aid and CPR/AED Level C exam. Study with detailed flashcards and multiple choice questions, each featuring hints and explanations. Ace your certification!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a sign of mild hypothermia?

When the body encounters cold, the first and clearest response is shivering. Vigorous shivering shows the body's heat-generating mechanism is actively trying to raise core temperature, which is exactly what happens in mild hypothermia. A warm red face isn’t typical of cold exposure—skin usually feels cool or is pale. Rapid breathing can occur with cold stress, but as hypothermia persists the rate of breathing often changes and isn’t the hallmark of mild stages. Normal coordination would be unlikely with cold exposure, since cold impairs motor function and balance, making clumsiness or unsteadiness more common. So the presence of vigorous shivering best identifies mild hypothermia in its early stage.

When the body encounters cold, the first and clearest response is shivering. Vigorous shivering shows the body's heat-generating mechanism is actively trying to raise core temperature, which is exactly what happens in mild hypothermia.

A warm red face isn’t typical of cold exposure—skin usually feels cool or is pale. Rapid breathing can occur with cold stress, but as hypothermia persists the rate of breathing often changes and isn’t the hallmark of mild stages. Normal coordination would be unlikely with cold exposure, since cold impairs motor function and balance, making clumsiness or unsteadiness more common. So the presence of vigorous shivering best identifies mild hypothermia in its early stage.