What is a primary cause of hypothermia?

Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, leading to a dangerous drop in core body temperature. Immersion in cold water is a primary cause of hypothermia because water has a higher thermal conductivity than air, which means it can draw heat away from the body more rapidly. When a person is submerged in cold water, the body's heat is extracted quickly, making it difficult to maintain normal body temperature.

Additionally, factors such as wind chill and wet conditions can exacerbate heat loss, making cold water immersion particularly hazardous in colder environments. This scenario not only depletes the body of heat but can also impair the body's ability to move and respond to the cold, leading to further complications.

In contrast, immersion in warm water would typically be a means of preventing hypothermia, while exposure to high temperatures does not lead to hypothermia, but rather the risk of heat-related illnesses. Lastly, while heat retention in clothing can help prevent the loss of body heat, it is not a direct cause of hypothermia but rather a factor in protection against it.