Prevent Frostbite and Hypothermia

Emily Fay

January 25, 2026

Winter brings cold weather and even colder wind chills. When temperatures drop to the teens or single digits, being outside can become dangerous. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. It’s important to wear multiple layers, cover any exposed skin with gloves, hats, scarves, etc., and stay inside. Keep pets indoors as much as possible and make sure outdoor animals and livestock have a warm, dry shelter, food, and unfrozen water.

Temperatures this low are dangerous and deadly. Check on your friends, family, and neighbors and make sure they have a way to stay warm. The elderly and those with medical conditions are more susceptible to the cold and may need additional help. Extreme cold impacts everyone!

Frostbite and hypothermia can occur quickly in these cold temperatures. The National Weather Service (NWS) has tips on how to stay safe, what to watch for, and how to help those experiencing these symptoms.

Frostbite

Frostbite happens when the body’s survival mechanisms kick in during extremely cold weather. To protect the vital inner organs, the body cuts off circulation to extremities (feet, hands, nose, etc.), which eventually freeze. It can happen in minutes, especially on fingers, toes, nose, and ears, but it can affect any area of exposed skin.

If you suspect frostbite, immediately move inside to a heated location and begin warming the affected areas using warm water or body heat. Do not use hot water or radiant heat, like a fireplace, since these areas can easily burn. Seek medical attention for severe frostbite.

To avoid frostbite, the NWS recommends:

• Stay inside during severe cold.
• If you must go out, try to cover every part of your body: ears, nose, toes, fingers, etc.
• Mittens are better than gloves.
• Keep your skin dry.
• Stay out of the wind when possible.
• Drink plenty of fluids since hydration increases the blood’s volume (which helps prevent frostbite).
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and cigarettes. Caffeine constricts blood vessels, preventing the warming of your extremities. Alcohol reduces shivering, which helps keep you warm. Cigarettes restrict the blood flow to your hands.

The CDC shares indicators of frostbite:

• Redness or pain in any skin area may be the first sign of frostbite.
• A white or grayish-yellow skin area
• Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
• Numbness

Frostbite First Aid

Get indoors as quickly as possible. Until you can get indoors:

Once indoors:

Hypothermia

When your body temperature sinks below 95°F, you have hypothermia. This serious health hazard occurs when body temperature is lowered too much. Get medical attention immediately. Move the victim inside to a heated location and begin warming the center of the body first. If the person is unconscious, administer CPR.

Hypothermia can occur in temperatures as warm as 60°F, particularly in water or if you are outside for a long time and not dressed for the weather. Everyone needs to be careful! Some medicines, problems with circulation, and certain illnesses may reduce your ability to resist hypothermia. As you age, your body becomes less efficient at letting you know when you are too cold. In addition, older people tend not to shiver effectively, one of the ways the body warms itself up.

NWS tips to help prevent hypothermia:

• Dress in layers.
• Wrap up well when going outside in the cold.
• Avoid breezes and drafts indoors.
• Eat nutritious food and wear warm clothes to ward off winter chill.
• Wear a warm hat in the winter.
• Eat hot foods and drink warm drinks several times during the day.
• If you live alone, ask a family member or neighbor to check on you daily or have a camera installed that a family member can view on their computer.
• Ask your doctor if any medicine you’re taking increases your risk of hypothermia. Drugs that may cause a problem include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, chlorpromazine, reserpine, and tricyclic antidepressants.

If your temperature is 95°F or less, you feel cold and sluggish, or you are having trouble thinking clearly, see a doctor immediately or go to the nearest emergency room. It’s better to be overly cautious than to die of a disorder that doesn’t have to be deadly. If you are trying to help someone who may have hypothermia, first call an ambulance. Then, lie close to the person and cover both of you with thick blankets. The hotter you get, the more warmth you can give the other person. Don’t rub the person or handle them roughly.

Bring Pets Inside

When temperatures drop, keep your pets inside as much as possible! Pets, no matter how thick their coats, are impacted by cold weather, too.

Indoor Heating Safety

Remember to stay safe when heating your home, too. Did you know home fires happen more in the winter than at any other time of year? Stay warm safely, and review these heating tips to help prevent fires.