TRAIL

Cold killer

From the doctor

Ceres GP and trail runner Jannas du Plessis explains the biological mechanism behind hypothermia.

Humans function perfectly at 37°C, but extreme conditions can drop our body temperature below that, which becomes a a life threatening condition. Hypothermia is when your core body temperature drops below 35°C, and your heating mechanisms, like shivering, are unable to warm you up again.

Hypothermia creeps up on you, and by the time you notice that you’re in trouble (when your hands can’t open zips, your fingers can’t tap the cellphone keyboard, your speech.

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