In just one week of cold weather blanketing Gaza, Six children Throughout the enclave they died of hypothermia.

While Israel continues its attacks on Gaza and its hospitals, the restrictions it imposes on what can enter the Palestinian territories mean inaccessibility. Winter aid Medical intervention also remains limited. The Israeli war on Gaza led to the deaths of more than 45,500 people, most of them children and women.

Here’s what you need to know about the condition that has claimed the lives of several infants and threatens a population of 2.3 million people, most of whom have been displaced from their homes and living in extreme cold with insufficient food and drinking water.

What is hypothermia?

Hypothermia, which literally means below normal temperature, is a condition that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it.

The body normally maintains a constant, warm temperature of around 37 °C (98.6 °F) using various mechanisms, such as metabolic heat production, which includes digesting food or moving muscles.

The core temperature should be maintained at approximately this level, between a narrow range of 36.1°C (97°F) and 37.2°C (99°F), depending on the individual, time of day and activity level. This allows vital organs, such as the brain and heart, to continue working properly.

However, when the body cannot compensate for heat loss and internal temperatures drop dangerously low, the body… Enters a state From hypothermia.

At what temperature do you get hypothermia?

Hypothermia is based on core body temperature rather than external temperature as one can develop it even in moderate cold, not just in freezing conditions.

Anyone can develop hypothermia even in hot temperatures Above 4C (40°F) if it becomes cold due to rain, wind, or immersion in cold water.

In medical terms, hypothermia begins when the body’s core temperature drops below 35°C (95°F), approximately 2 degrees below average.

The severity of the condition depends on How low Low internal temperature:

• Mild hypothermia: 32–35 °C (89.6–95 °F)
• Mild hypothermia: 28–32 °C (82.4–89.6 °F)
• Severe hypothermia: Below 28°C (82.4°F)

What are its signs and symptoms?

What happens to the body depends on the severity and stage of hypothermia.

During initial exposure to cold, the body begins to lose heat through the skin. Wind or water speeds up this process by removing the thin layer of warmth around the body.

To conserve heat, blood vessels in the skin constrict, reducing blood flow to the surface. This keeps more heat closer to vital organs but causes fingers, toes, and other extremities to feel cold and numb.

To generate more heat, the body begins to shiver, and breathing and heart rate increase to pump warm blood to vital organs and support metabolism.

However, mild confusion, clumsiness, and fatigue may occur when the cold begins to affect the brain and muscles.

As exposure to cold continues, heat loss exceeds the body’s internal attempts to generate heat, and a moderate drop in body temperature begins. The shivering stops as the muscles run out of energy, and a feedback loop makes the situation worse: as metabolism slows, the body produces less heat.

Heart rate, breathing, and metabolic processes slow further as the body tries to conserve energy. As this vicious cycle continues, the gap between heat lost and heat produced widens.

Eventually, the internal temperature drop becomes severe.

The brain’s ability to perform its functions deteriorates, leading to loss of consciousness. The cold disrupts the heart’s electrical system, causing an irregular heartbeat that can lead to cardiac arrest.

Without prompt medical intervention, vital functions may fail completely, leading to death.

Can hypothermia be stopped?

Yes, hypothermia can be stopped if necessary steps are taken in time.

Recovering from moderate to mild hypothermia Includes Move the person to a warm, dry environment, remove any wet clothing, and cover them with blankets to keep the body warm.

Warm, non-alcoholic drinks can help if the person is conscious.

However, severe hypothermia often requires medical intervention. This includes passive rewarming using heated blankets, or active rewarming techniques such as administering warm intravenous fluids or rewarming the blood.

Rewarming involves drawing blood from the body, usually through a large catheter, warming it with a specialized machine, and then pumping it back into the body.

Are children more at risk of hypothermia?

Infants face a greater risk because their bodies lose heat more quickly than adults.

This is because their bodies are shaped differently. Compared to adults, they have larger skin (surface area) relative to their size (body mass). This means that they lose heat faster through their skin, especially in cold environments. Since their young bodies cannot produce heat as efficiently as adults, they are more susceptible to severe cold.

They may also not show obvious signs of cold stress, making it difficult to recognize hypothermia.

Also acute malnutrition Doubles the risks From hypothermia. The restrictions imposed on the entry of food and medicine into Gaza, since the beginning of the war on October 7, 2023, mean that the Strip is witnessing Famine-like conditions For a year.

What are the current temperatures in Gaza?

In the last week of December 2024, Temperatures ranged Highs between approximately 19°C and 20°C (66°F to 68°F) and nighttime lows between 11°C and 12°C (52°F to 54°F)

However, the current winter in Gaza is harsh for those living in tents or without adequate shelter, with heavy rains and strong winds. I was devastated Temporary covers, clothes and blankets.

With limited access to fuel, electricity or gas heaters due to strict restrictions imposed by Israel, many residents are suffering Resort to Cutting down trees to obtain firewood for heating and cooking.

How cold is the weather in Gaza and does it snow?

During the winter months, especially in January, average temperatures are low It can go down to About 9°C (45°F), with daytime highs near 18°C ​​(65°F).

Although the enclave’s winters are not particularly harsh, its heavy rainfall and coastal location can make it colder. December and January are too Wet months In Gaza.

It does not usually snow in Gaza, but on rare occasions it does It has been reported In the past, as happened in December 2013.