The danger of hypothermia is greatest for a person in which situation?

The risk of hypothermia is indeed greatest for a person who is immersed in cold water. When a body is submerged in cold water, it loses heat much more rapidly compared to air exposure due to water's higher thermal conductivity. This rapid heat loss can lead to a significant drop in body temperature, especially if the water is significantly colder than the body’s normal temperature.

In water, heat is lost approximately 25 times faster than in air, making immersion a particularly dangerous scenario for hypothermia. The cold water causes the body's core temperature to decrease, and the risk increases significantly the longer an individual remains in this environment.

While exposure to strong winds, wearing wet clothing, or standing in shallow water can indeed contribute to hypothermia, none of these situations results in heat loss as swiftly or severely as immersion in cold water does. This is why immersion is identified as the most critical context for the development of hypothermia.