Which of the following is a sign of severe hypothermia?

Severe hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, resulting in a dangerously low core body temperature. One of the key signs of severe hypothermia is clumsiness or drowsiness. As the body's temperature drops, physiological and neurological functions begin to slow down. This can manifest as impaired motor skills and decreased alertness, making an individual appear clumsy or unusually lethargic. These symptoms are critical indicators that the person is in a medical emergency and requires prompt intervention to prevent further deterioration, such as cardiac arrest or even death.

In contrast, increased heart rate is typically a sign of mild hypothermia, where the body initially tries to compensate for the cold. Extreme thirst is not a recognized sign of hypothermia; rather, it may occur in other conditions such as dehydration. High body temperature is obviously contradictory to the definition of hypothermia, as the condition is characterized by a significantly low body temperature. Understanding these signs helps in appropriately identifying and responding to hypothermia in emergency situations.