Symptoms and Treatment

Learn more on how to prevent, recognize, and cope with cold-related illnesses like frostbite and hypothermia.

Avoid. Spot. Treat. - Frostbite and Hypothermia(PDF, 4MB)

Frostbite

Frostbite is caused by freezing and leads to a loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers and toes.  Frostbite can permanently damage the body and severe cases can lead to amputation (removing the affected body part).

What to look out for:

  • Numbness
  • White or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin.

What to do:

  • Go to a warm room.
  • Soak in warm water.
  • Use body heat to warm.
  • Do not massage or use heating pad.

Find more information on preventing frostbite.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a dangerous condition where a person’s body temperature drops unusually low due to exposure to extremely cold temperatures.

What to look out for:

Adults

  • Shivering
  • Exhaustion
  • Confusion
  • Fumbling hands
  • Memory loss
  • Slurred speech
  • Drowsiness

Babies

  • Bright red, cold skin
  • Very low energy

What to do:

  • Go to a warm room.
  • Warm the center of the body first (chest, neck, head and groin).
  • Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets.
  • If a person’s temperature is below 95 degrees, get medical attention immediately.

Find more information on preventing hypothermia.

Back to top