Severe hypothermia is indicated by what body temperature?

Severe hypothermia is indeed indicated by a body temperature below 33 degrees Celsius or 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature threshold, the body is unable to maintain its normal physiological functions, leading to a risk of life-threatening complications. The core body temperature typically needs to be around 36.5 to 37 degrees Celsius (97.7 to 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) for proper metabolic and physiological operations; anything significantly below this can result in impairment of bodily functions.

When the body temperature drops below 33 degrees Celsius, critical systems can start to fail, and the risk of cardiac arrhythmias increases. This temperature range is significant in understanding the severity of hypothermia, as interventions must be timely and effectively aimed at rewarming the individual safely.

The other temperature references provided do not indicate severe hypothermia: temperatures of no lower than 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit) indicate a normal body temperature; 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) is categorized as mild hypothermia; and a temperature greater than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) signifies hyperthermia, which is a completely different condition with separate health implications. Understanding these critical temperature thresholds is essential in the context of