What is hypothermia and how does someone get it?

When you are exposed to extreme cold for a long period of time..you can freeze..and your body will shut down and you'll die. Sometimes certain parts of a persons body..like toes or fingers will freeze and have to be amputated.

Here's a link to an article on the Mayo Clinic web site about hypothermia.

It is when body temperature drops to nothing. Being out in the freezing cold causes it. People can die from it. That is why you hear storys about people in the snowy mountains, who get lost are later found dead.

It is when the body tempurature drops to low for the body to function, it's organs etc. they slow down until they cease to function. causes of slowed blood flow to the extremeties can cause the toes, legs, fingers, arms to deaden from lack of blood flow, and have to be amputated. one should be checked out at a medical facility if they are exposed to extreme cold for a period of time.

you dont have to be in extreme cold to get hypothermia. if you stay in an 80 degree water for a hour or so you will start to see the onset of hypothermia. normal temp you know is 98.6 if you drop to even 96 you can get hypothermia. its basicaly your body cannot continue to keep itself warm so you go into hypothermic shock.