Quick Answer
While some cases of mild hypothermia can be treated without professional help, severe cases often require medical attention. Removing wet clothing, seeking shelter, and using a space blanket or warm layer can help in mild cases. However, if the person's body temperature drops below 95°F (35°C), professional help is required.
Recognizing and Removing the Cause
Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. In most cases, this is due to exposure to cold temperatures, wet clothing, and wind. If you or someone you’re with has become hypothermic, the first step is to remove any wet clothing and get out of the wind. This should be done quickly and carefully to avoid exacerbating the condition.
For example, in cold and wet conditions, a person’s body temperature can drop by 1-2°F (0.5-1°C) per minute. Thus, it’s crucial to act fast and remove wet clothing to prevent further heat loss. If possible, wear layers of warm, dry clothing such as a hat, gloves, and a scarf. A hat can help retain up to 7-10% of body heat, while a scarf can help retain up to 10-15%.
Providing Basic Care
Once the cause of hypothermia has been removed, provide basic care to the affected person. Use a space blanket or a warm layer to help retain body heat. For cases of mild hypothermia (body temperature between 95°F and 97.7°F or 35°C and 36.5°C), use the HUGS method: H - Help the person get dry clothing, U - Use a warm layer or space blanket, G - Get the person to a warm shelter, and S - Stay with the person until they recover.
Find more answers
Browse the full Q&A library by topic, or jump back to the topic this question belongs to.