Immediate first aid measures for cold exposure

First aid measures may prevent further heat loss and help the body slowly warm up.

• Remain calm. Fear or too much activity causes sweating. Sweating can make you feel chilled.
• Find shelter so you can get out of the cold, the wind, or the water.
• Remove cold, wet clothes.
  • Put on dry clothing, especially wool clothing or a synthetic fabric that insulates well, such as polypropylene. Cover your head.
  • If dry clothing is not immediately available, you can try to get warm by making skin-to-skin contact. After removing wet clothes, wrap a blanket or sleeping bag around you and another person and allow body heat to rewarm you.
  • Warm up under a heated blanket, if available.
• Move around, but don't be so active that you sweat. Whirl your arms around like a windmill to get your blood moving and warm you up. Activity makes body heat and improves blood flow. Sweating should be avoided because it cools the body.
• Drink warm fluids that do not contain caffeine or alcohol. Eat high-energy foods, such as candy. Do not give food or drink to a person who is acting confused or responding slowly.
• Try to avoid putting your whole body in warm water. As a last resort, use a warm-water bath [100.4° (38°) to 105° (41°)] to rewarm if help is not available and other home treatments are not working to warm you up. Small body parts, such as a hand or foot, can be rewarmed by putting them in warm water. Do not put anyone who is not fully awake and alert into a warm bath.
• Do not smoke tobacco.
• Be aware that if you (or the person) sit in front of a heater or a fire to warm up, there is a greater chance of getting burned. This is because normal feeling is lost in cold-injured skin, and you may not know when to move away from the heater or fire.