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Cold, Wet and Hypothermia

Catch it early, warm gently, protect frozen skin

6 minIntermediateUpdated 2026-10-23 Cold, Wet and Hypothermia

You will learn

Recognise the early signs of hypothermia in yourself and others
Rewarm someone gently and insulate them from the ground
Give sensible first aid for frostbite

⚠️ Call your local emergency number (112 in Europe) for anyone confused, drowsy or no longer shivering.

⚠️ Never rub frostbitten skin or rewarm it if it might refreeze.

⚠️ This lesson is not a substitute for a real first-aid course. Consider a winter or wilderness course.

The early signs

Hypothermia happens when the body loses heat faster than it makes it. Wet clothes and wind make it happen far faster, even at 10 °C. Early signs are shivering, cold pale skin, clumsy hands, stumbling, slurred speech, poor decisions and grumpiness, often called the "umbles": stumbles, mumbles, fumbles and grumbles. As it gets worse, shivering may stop, the person becomes drowsy and confused, and breathing and pulse slow down. Stopped shivering in a cold person is a very bad sign, not a sign of recovery. Call your local emergency number (112 in Europe) for anyone who is drowsy, confused or not shivering.

💡 Watch your group, not just yourself. People with hypothermia rarely notice their own.

Get them out of the cold

Get to shelter from wind and rain: a tent, a bothy, a car, or the lee of a rock. Put insulation underneath them first, because the ground steals heat faster than air: a sleeping mat, rucksack, spare clothes, branches. Replace wet clothes with dry ones if you can do it quickly and in shelter, or put dry layers and a waterproof over the top. Cover the head and neck. Wrap them in a sleeping bag, blanket or survival bag, and if possible share body heat with a second person inside. Keep them lying down and handle them gently.

Rewarm gently

If they are alert and can swallow, give warm, sweet drinks and high-energy food: it fuels their shivering. Warm packs or bottles wrapped in cloth can go on the chest, armpits and neck, never directly on skin. Do not give alcohol: it makes the body lose heat faster. Do not rub or massage their limbs, and do not put them in a hot bath or make them exercise, because moving cold blood from the limbs too quickly can upset the heart. Anyone who was confused, drowsy or had stopped shivering must be seen by a professional, even if they seem to recover.

💡 Warm sweet tea, not a hip flask. Alcohol feels warm but steals heat.

Frostbite basics

Frostbite is frozen skin and tissue, usually fingers, toes, nose, ears and cheeks. It starts with pins and needles, then numbness, and the skin turns white, grey or waxy and feels hard. Get out of the cold, remove tight rings and boots if you can, and warm the area gently with body heat, such as fingers in the armpits. Never rub it, and never rub it with snow. Do not rewarm it if there is any chance it will freeze again before you reach safety: refreezing does far more damage, so it can be better to walk out on a frozen foot. Get medical help for any frostbite. A winter first-aid course is well worth it.