Hypothermia and Frostbite

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Hypothermia is when your body loses too much heat and can’t work properly.

Warning Signs of Hypothermia (Remember - stumbles, mumbles, fumbles and grumbles)

• Cold feet and hands
• Puffy or swollen face
• Pale skin
• Severe shivering
• Slurred speech or speaking more slowly than usual
• Dizziness or trouble staying balanced when walking
• Confusion or unusual anger
• Tiredness
• Slow breathing
• Slow pulse
• Blacking out (loss of consciousness)

Treatment of Hypothermia

• Call 911
• Move out of the cold and wind
• Remove any wet clothes
• Cover the person with dry clothes or a warm blanket
• Share body heat with another person
• DON’T use direct heat (like a heating pad or lamp) on someone with hypothermia
• Drink warm beverages (but NOT caffeine or alcohol)
• DON’T rub or massage someone with hypothermia

Frostbite is when your skin freezes. It usually affects fingers, toes, and exposed skin – like your face, nose and ears.

Signs of Frostbite

• Gray, white or yellow skin
• Waxy-looking skin
• Numbness – no feeling in the affected area

Treatment of Frostbite

• Call 911
• Warm the area slowly by blowing warm air on it or placing it against a warm part of the body
• DON’T rub frostbitten skin