For most of the year, water in Minnesota lakes is cold enough to kill you. Moreover, long before the cold water will kill you the cold can make it impossible for you to use your hands to put on a PFD or perform a rescue. Hypothermia is defined as losing body heat faster than your body can produce it. Paddlers are exposed to the risk of hypothermia even if they do not capsize on the water. Mild hypothermia is present when the body temperature is lowered about 2 degrees.
Mild hypothermia is characterized by controllable shivering.
Grogginess, poor judgement and abnormal behavior may also be present. First aid for mild hypothermia includes changing into warm dry clothes, providing a warm environment. Hot drinks, tea with sugar, hot chocolate or bouillon, can add heat calories and food energy to help the person generate heat internally. Shivering should be encouraged, because the muscle activity generates heat. Moderate hypothermia is present when the person's core temperature is between 90 and 96 degrees.