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Hypothermia-Related Deaths—Utah, 2000, and United States, 1979-1998
Arch Dermatol. 2002;138:705-706.
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HYPOTHERMIA IS a medical emergency that is completely preventable.1 Hypothermia occurs when persons are exposed to
ambient cold temperatures without appropriate protection for extended periods
of time.1 The clinical definition of hypothermia
is a core body temperature  95°F (35°C).1
This report describes cases of hypothermia-related deaths in Utah during 2000
and describes unintentional hypothermia-related deaths in the United States
during 1979-1998. The Utah cases illustrate risk factors and environmental
conditions associated with hypothermia.
Case Reports
Case 1
In February 2000, a man aged 50 years was found dead in an alley behind
local businesses in urban Utah. The high temperature that day had been 50°F
(10°C), and the low temperature had been 36°F (2°C) with 0.1 inch
of precipitation. The decedent was a transient who overused alcohol. His postmortem
blood alcohol level was 0.36 g/dL. The death certificate listed the cause
of death as hypothermia attributed to acute and chronic alcoholism.
Case 2
In March 2000, . . . [Full Text of this Article] Case 3 Case 4
United States
Reported by:
Editorial Note:
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