Frostbite, hypothermia, and cold weather first aid
Frostbite and hypothermia sneak up quietly because extreme cold numbs your nerves and clouds your thinking. Knowing the early warning signs lets you step inside long before any lasting harm occurs.
If you only do three things
- When cold fingers, toes, ears, or cheeks go from hurting/tingling to feeling completely NUMB and looking waxy white or pale, go indoors immediately.
- Never rub frostbitten skin with your hands or snow, and never hold numb hands against a hot stove, radiator, or fire—rewarm in lukewarm (99–102°F) water.
- Uncontrollable shivering followed by confusion, slurred speech, or shivering suddenly stopping is a medical emergency (hypothermia)—call 911.
Frostnip vs. Frostbite: What to look for
- Frostnip (Early Warning): Skin on cheeks, ears, nose, fingers, or toes turns bright red and feels very cold, prickly, or aching. Go inside and warm the area against your own warm skin (such as tucking cold fingers into your armpits). Frostnip leaves no permanent damage.
- Frostbite (Medical Emergency): The ice crystals actually freeze the skin tissue. The area loses all feeling (goes numb), turns pale white, grayish-yellow, or waxy, and feels hard or wooden when touched.
Why you must NEVER rub frostbitten skin
Frostbitten cells contain sharp microscopic ice crystals. Rubbing frozen fingers or ears grinds those ice crystals against delicate blood vessels and shreds the tissue. Likewise, holding numb hands near a space heater or hot water will burn them severely because you cannot feel the heat. Use body heat or water that feels comfortably warm (99–102°F / 37–39°C) to a healthy elbow.
Hypothermia: When core body temperature drops below 95°F (35°C)
Hypothermia can happen outdoors in wet, windy 40°F (4°C) weather or indoors in an unheated 50°F (10°C) house—especially in older adults and babies.
Warning signs in adults: Shivering, fumbling hands (unable to zip a coat), slurred speech, confusion, drowsiness. In severe hypothermia, shivering stops completely.
What to do: Move the person to a warm room, remove any wet clothing, warm the center of their body first (chest, neck, head, and groin) with dry blankets, and give warm, sweet, non-alcoholic drinks if they are fully awake. Never give alcohol—it dilates blood vessels and makes the body lose heat faster.
Related guides
- Keeping dogs, cats, and pets safe in snow: Paw salt burns, antifreeze danger, and outdoor cats.
- How to dress for snow: The 3-layer system to prevent cold injury.