A survivor has been pulled from the water off the coast of Greenland. The patient is in a state of confusion and has ceased shivering. Which of the following best describes the patient's condition?
• Stages of hypothermia and how shivering changes as body temperature drops • Differences between localized cold injuries (like frostbite/frostnip) and whole‑body hypothermia • Typical mental status changes seen in worsening hypothermia
• Ask yourself: does confusion and stopped shivering sound more like a problem with the whole body temperature or just a small area like fingers or toes? • Think about the progression: at what point in hypothermia do people usually shiver a lot, and at what point can shivering actually stop? • Which choices describe conditions that mainly affect part of the body, and which describe conditions that affect the entire body core temperature?
• Verify which level of hypothermia is associated with confusion, decreased consciousness, and reduced or absent shivering • Check which conditions (frostbite/frostnip) are localized tissue injuries, not whole‑body problems • Confirm that mild hypothermia usually still has active shivering and relatively clear mental status
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts!