Five stages of hypothermia

Q: What are the five stages of hypothermia per the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (Swiss system stages)?


Answer: The International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine has designated following fives stages of hypothermia mostly to guide prehospital rescuers to estimate the severity of hypothermia (HT).

• HT I - Mild -  Shivering but normal mental status - Estimated core temperature 32 to 35°C
• HT II - Moderate - No shivering but altered mental status - Estimated core temperature 28 to 32°C
• HT III - Severe - Unconscious patients -Estimated core temperature 24 to 28°C
• HT IV - Severe - Apparent death - Estimated Core temperature 13.7 to 24°C - resuscitation may be possible
• HT V - Death - Irreversible hypothermia. Core temperature - less than 9 to 13.7°C - resuscitation not possible.

References:

Durrer B, Brugger H, Syme D, International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine. The medical on-site treatment of hypothermia: ICAR-MEDCOM recommendation. High Alt Med Biol 2003; 4:99.