What core temperature ranges define mild, moderate, and severe hypothermia?

• A. Mild: 28–32°C; Moderate: 32–35°C; Severe: <28°C
• B. Mild: 30–33°C; Moderate: 26–29°C; Severe: <25°C
• C. Mild: 32–35°C; Moderate: 28–32°C; Severe: <28°C
• D. Mild: 35–38°C; Moderate: 32–35°C; Severe: 29–32°C

Answer: (C)

Core temperature thresholds are used to describe how cold a person is and how their body is coping. Mild hypothermia is defined as a core temperature around 32 to 35°C, moderate as about 28 to 32°C, and severe as below 28°C. This progression reflects increasing physiological impairment and guides treatment: mild cases often respond to simple warming and observation, moderate cases may need more active warming and closer monitoring, and severe cases require aggressive rewarming and medical support due to higher risks like life-threatening arrhythmias. Other options mix up the ranges or include temperatures that aren’t hypothermic, which is why they don’t match the standard definitions.