British Columbia CORE Hunting Practice Exam

What is a symptom of hypothermia?

1. Elevated body temperature

2. Uncontrolled shivering

3. Excessive sweating

4. Rapid pulse

The correct answer is: Uncontrolled shivering

Uncontrolled shivering is indeed a key symptom of hypothermia. This physiological response occurs as the body attempts to generate heat in reaction to a drop in core body temperature. When exposed to cold conditions, the body activates muscles to create heat through shivering, a process that can be uncontrollable as hypothermia progresses. In early stages of hypothermia, the person may begin to shiver in order to maintain their body heat, often being noticeably cold to the touch. As hypothermia progresses, shivering may cease, which is a sign of severe hypothermia and indicates that the body is unable to generate warmth. Understanding the importance of recognizing shivering can be vital in outdoor settings to prevent further progression of hypothermia, allowing timely interventions and treatments to be applied. The other choices do not align with the signs of hypothermia. Elevated body temperature, for example, would indicate the opposite condition (hyperthermia). Excessive sweating and rapid pulse are typically associated with heat-related illness or distress, not hypothermia, which makes the choice of uncontrolled shivering clear in the context of identifying symptoms related to hypothermia.