What is hypothermia and what can you do to prevent it?
Hypothermia can occur when someone is exposed to frigid temperatures for a long period of time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia often occurs at very cold temperatures, but you can still be susceptible at temperatures as warm as 60 degrees.
As the start of meteorological winter is finally upon us, so is the growing risk of hypothermia and other deadly dangers associated with the cold-weather season.
Hypothermia can occur when someone is exposed to frigid temperatures for a long period of time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A prolonged exposure will eventually deplete your body’s stored energy, leading to dropping temperatures and, eventually, hypothermia.
"Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well," according to a statement from the CDC. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, because a person may not know that it’s happening and won't be able to do anything about it.
Frostbite and Hypothermia symptoms.
Hypothermia Symptoms
It is essential to take notice of hypothermia symptoms before it is too late, which could be the difference between life and death. While hypothermia typically occurs in cold temperatures, it could also happen at cool temperatures above 40 degrees if someone becomes cold from rain, sweat, or cold water.
- Drowsiness
- Weakness and loss of coordination
- Pale and cold skin
- Confusion
- Uncontrollable shivering, although at extremely low body temperatures, shivering may stop
- Slowed breathing or heart rate
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - JANUARY 6: People walk through Central Park during cold winter weather in New York, United States on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu / Getty Images)
What you should do
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends taking a person’s temperature; if it is below 95 degrees, seek medical attention immediately.
If medical care is unavailable, begin warming up the person by doing the following:
- Move to a warm room or shelter.
- Remove any wet clothing from the victim.
- Warm the center of the body first — chest, neck, head, and groin — using an electric blanket, if available, or warm compresses. Use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets.
- Provide the victim with non-alcoholic warm beverages – but no alcohol – to help increase body temperature. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person.
- Keep the person dry and wrapped – including the head and neck – in a warm blanket even if the body temperature has increased.
- Stay with the person until medical help arrives.
WHAT DOES FROSTBITE DO TO YOUR BODY? HERE ARE THE GORY DETAILS
What not to do
It is a common misconception that alcohol will warm up your body in a situation dealing with hypothermia.
"Alcohol delays the onset of shivering and reduces its duration," read a statement from the National Library of Medicine. "It augments cold diuresis, thereby diminishing blood volume and physical working capacity."
In other words, alcohol gives a pleasant feeling of warmth, but in reality, it lowers your chances of regaining a normal body temperature.
WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES — DECEMBER 5: People walk around the US Capitol building during snowy weather in Washington DC, United States on December 5, 2025. ( Fatih Aktas/Anadolu / Getty Images)
How to prevent hypothermia
There are many ways to stay warm and prevent hypothermia during the winter months.
For starters, you should dress in warm layers to keep your body heat trapped inside your clothes, according to MedlinePlus.gov.
It would also be wise to wear a warm hat, face mask, scarf, gloves or mittens, and waterproof snow boots. Having a full meal before venturing out in the cold will also help fuel your body and keep you warm. If you skip out on a meal, you increase your risk of hypothermia and frostbite.
It is important to note that if you have diabetes or circulatory issues, this could put you at a higher risk for hypothermia.
When trying to warm someone up, you must warm the center of the body first: chest, neck, head, and groin, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.