Which of the following is a sign of mild hypothermia?

• A. Shivering
• B. AMS
• C. Slow heart rate
• D. Heat intolerance

Answer: (A)

Shivering is the body's first and most common response to cold, because muscle activity generates heat to raise core temperature. In mild hypothermia, this protective reflex is active, so shivering is a typical sign as the person is still alert and capable of movement.

Altered mental status tends to emerge as cooling progresses and becomes more severe, so it’s not a hallmark of the mild stage. A slow heart rate and slowed breathing usually appear with more significant cooling rather than in mild hypothermia. Heat intolerance, on the other hand, is a symptom associated with heat exposure, not cold, so it doesn’t fit hypothermia.