Cold exposure and hypothermia
Prevent dangerous heat loss and recognise and manage hypothermia safely.
Critical caution: Severe hypothermia is life-threatening. Call the emergency number. Handle the person gently and do not rewarm with direct heat such as a hot bath, shower or heat packs.
- Time
- Minutes to hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Outcome
- Stop heat loss and rewarm slowly and safely
Survival lens: Cold works quietly. The practical lesson from survival training is to act on the first signs—clumsiness and grumbling—not to wait for collapse.
Before you begin
- Pack layers, a hat, gloves, dry socks and an emergency bivvy or blanket
- Keep sleeping mats to insulate from the ground
- Watch older people, babies and anyone wet, injured or exhausted
What you need
- Dry layers, hat and gloves
- Woollen blankets or sleeping bag
- Emergency bivvy or survival blanket
- Insulating mat
- Warm sweet drinks (for alert people only)
Step-by-step procedure
- Stop the heat loss. Move out of wind and rain if it is safe to do so. Insulate from the ground. Wind and wet clothing remove heat far faster than still, dry air.
- Know the signs. Mild hypothermia: shivering, cool skin, slurred speech, clumsiness—“fumble, mumble, grumble and stumble”. Moderate: shivering decreases, drowsiness and confusion, slow breathing and pulse. Severe: unconsciousness.
- Call for help. Call the emergency number for suspected severe hypothermia, or if the person is confused, drowsy or worsening. If they are not breathing normally, start CPR.
- Handle gently and keep them flat. Move the person as little as possible. Have them lie flat for at least 30 minutes. Rough handling can trigger a dangerous heart rhythm.
- Remove wet clothing and rewarm slowly. Replace wet clothing with dry layers and wrap in woollen blankets or an emergency bivvy. Do not use direct heat such as a bath, shower or heat packs.
- Warm drinks only if alert. If they are awake and responding, offer warm, sugary drinks and food. Avoid alcohol, caffeine and smoking.
How to check it is working
- The person is out of wind and wet
- Wet clothing has been replaced
- They are insulated from the ground
- Emergency services are called if signs are moderate or severe
Common mistakes
- Rewarming with a hot bath or shower
- Rubbing the limbs vigorously
- Giving alcohol to “warm up”
- Letting a confused person walk on alone
Sources and further reading
How this guide was checked
Official-source aligned: Aligned with healthdirect hypothermia guidance
Independent specialist review: not yet completed. How review works.
Last updated: Nov 2026 · edition 1.0.
Open in the library to print or download · Suggest a correction · Kit planner