Final answer:
The statement is true. Hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by a dangerous decrease in body temperature due to excessive cold exposure. Medical professionals sometimes use controlled hypothermia as a therapeutic intervention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement, 'Hypothermia is cooling of the entire body. It can be caused by continued exposure to low or rapidly dropping temperatures, cold moister, snow, and/or ice.' is true. Hypothermia is a condition characterized by an abnormally low body temperature, typically below 34.4 degrees Celsius (94 degrees Fahrenheit).
It occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, leading to a dangerous decrease in core body temperature. The human body responds to cold by shivering and increasing the breakdown of stored energy to generate heat.
However, in severe cases, when these responses are not sufficient to maintain normal temperature, vital functions are impaired as red blood cells lose their ability to release oxygen, potentially causing confusion, lethargy, and in extreme cases, even death.
Frostbite can also develop in the extremities if they are exposed to severe cold due to reduced blood circulation. On the other hand, controlled hypothermia is a medical intervention used to intentionally lower the body temperature to reduce the metabolic rate for medical benefits, such as during cardiac arrest treatment or open-heart surgery.