What is defined as a drop in body temperature below normal?

Hypothermia is defined as a drop in body temperature below the normal range, typically below 95°F (35°C). This condition occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, leading to dangerously low body temperatures. It often results from prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, wet conditions, or wind. Symptoms can include shivering, confusion, slurred speech, and lethargy, which can worsen as the temperature continues to drop.

The other options refer to different conditions: frostbite involves damage to the skin and underlying tissues due to freezing temperatures; heat stroke is a severe reaction to heat, characterized by a high body temperature and failure of the body's heat-regulating mechanisms; and heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that occurs due to excessive loss of water and salt, typically from sweating. These conditions are related to temperature extremes but do not specifically indicate a drop in body temperature.