Why it matters
Whole-body cooling affects judgement and movement, while frozen tissue may be numb rather than painful. Shelter and careful handling matter; rubbing a frozen area or allowing it to refreeze after thawing can make damage worse.
What you’ll need
Tools
- Phone
- Emergency location information
Materials
- Dry clothing and blankets
- Shelter
- Dry sterile dressings
- Warm non-alcoholic drink for an alert person
Before you begin
Safety & limits
- Suspected hypothermia with confusion, drowsiness or reduced response is an emergency. Handle gently and call for help. Do not rub frostbite, apply intense direct heat or deliberately thaw tissue that may refreeze. Give nothing by mouth unless the person is fully alert and swallowing safely.
Work carefully, in order
The method
- 01
Recognize the exposure and changes
Look for wet clothing, wind exposure and prolonged cooling, not just freezing weather. Shivering, clumsy hands, unusual tiredness, slurred speech or confusion may indicate hypothermia. Numb, firm or waxy skin may indicate frostbite. Do not treat reduced complaints as proof that the person is recovering.
- 02
Call and move to shelter safely
Call emergency services for suspected hypothermia, reduced response or serious frostbite. Give the location and access difficulties. Move into shelter only if safe, handling the person gently. Avoid forcing someone with frozen feet to walk except when essential to escape danger; ask for evacuation guidance.
- 03
Limit further heat loss
Replace wet clothing carefully and cover the person with dry layers, including head and neck while keeping the face clear. Insulate them from the ground. Focus on protecting the whole person from continued cooling. Avoid aggressive movement, rubbing or placing numb skin next to a fire or heater.
- 04
Protect frozen tissue
Remove constricting jewellery if possible and protect the area without rubbing or bursting blisters. Rewarming needs a plan that prevents refreezing and follows medical guidance. Warm water must be controlled, never hot; numb tissue cannot judge a safe temperature. Do not begin a field thaw simply because a stove is available.
- 05
Monitor and hand over
Stay with the person and watch breathing and responsiveness. Give a warm non-alcoholic drink only if fully alert and able to swallow safely. If unresponsive and not breathing normally, follow dispatcher CPR instructions. Tell responders about exposure, wetness, symptoms and any warming; do not assume a very cold unresponsive person is beyond help.
- 06
Prepare before the next outing
Review dry spare clothing, ground insulation, shelter access and a turnaround plan with companions. Practise checking one another’s speech and coordination during a normal outing. Arrange first-aid training for cold environments. Restock the kit after use and follow medical advice before returning an injured area to cold exposure.
Mistakes to avoid
- Rubbing frozen skin
- Using a fire to warm numb tissue
- Thawing an area that may refreeze
If it isn’t working
The person becomes quiet and drowsy
Call for emergency help, handle gently and monitor breathing; this may be worsening cooling rather than rest.
The route may expose thawed tissue to freezing again
Protect the area and get evacuation and rewarming guidance before deliberate thawing.
Then & now
Historical context
Dry layers and shelter remain useful cold-weather skills. Modern care distinguishes hypothermia from local frostbite and replaces rubbing or intense direct heat with controlled warming and assessment.
The modern equivalent
Cold-exposure planning, gentle sheltering and medically guided rewarming rather than folk rubbing or direct heat.
Sources & review
Editorial draft — specialist review pending. Written 2026-10-05. Sources support the stated scope; this page has not been professionally certified.
- CDC — Preventing Hypothermia ↗
Recognition, shelter, dry layers, safe drinks and urgent response to severe cooling. Checked 2026-10-05.
- American Red Cross — Frostbite ↗
Frozen-tissue care, controlled rewarming, no rubbing and prevention of refreezing. Checked 2026-10-05.
