Signs of frostbite and hypothermia
Frostbite starts as numb, white or grayish yellow skin on fingers, toes, ears or nose that feels firm or waxy. Hypothermia shows as intense shivering, fumbling, slurred speech and confusion, and becomes an emergency when shivering stops. Get the person somewhere warm, remove wet clothing and wrap them in dry layers. Call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, for hypothermia or serious frostbite.
Why it matters: Waiting at a stalled bus stop or walking a dog in a cold snap can turn serious faster than it feels.
In an emergency, call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, first. Reading a page is not training: take a certified class and practice on a manikin.
Steps
- In a cold snap, dress in layers, cover ears, fingers and nose, and change out of wet clothes quickly.
- Watch for frostbite: numb, white or grayish yellow skin that feels firm or waxy.
- Watch for hypothermia: strong shivering, clumsy hands, slurred speech, drowsiness or confusion.
- Get the person indoors or out of the wind, and take off wet clothing.
- Wrap them in dry blankets, covering the head and neck; a warm, sugary drink can help, but only for someone awake enough to hold the cup.
- For frostbite, warm the area gently with body heat or warm, not hot, water, and do not rub it.
- Call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, for hypothermia, confusion, or skin that stays hard, blistered or dark.
- Take a certified class to practice first aid for cold emergencies.
Stop and call a professional if
- the person is confused, very drowsy or has stopped shivering while still cold: call your local emergency number, 911 in the US
- frostbitten skin stays hard, turns dark, blisters or stays numb after warming: get medical care the same day
Common mistakes
- Rubbing frostbitten skin or warming it with a heater or hot water.
- Rewarming frostbite when it could freeze again on the way.
- Giving alcohol to warm someone up.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: Signs of frostbite and hypothermia
What to say
Frostbite starts as numb, white or grayish yellow skin on fingers, toes, ears or nose that feels firm or waxy. Hypothermia shows as intense shivering, fumbling, slurred speech and confusion, and becomes an emergency when shivering stops. Get the person somewhere warm, remove wet clothing and wrap them in dry layers. Call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, for hypothermia or serious frostbite.
What to show
- In a cold snap, dress in layers, cover ears, fingers and nose, and change out of wet clothes quickly.
- Watch for frostbite: numb, white or grayish yellow skin that feels firm or waxy.
- Watch for hypothermia: strong shivering, clumsy hands, slurred speech, drowsiness or confusion.
- Get the person indoors or out of the wind, and take off wet clothing.
- Wrap them in dry blankets, covering the head and neck; a warm, sugary drink can help, but only for someone awake enough to hold the cup.
- For frostbite, warm the area gently with body heat or warm, not hot, water, and do not rub it.
- Call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, for hypothermia, confusion, or skin that stays hard, blistered or dark.
- Take a certified class to practice first aid for cold emergencies.
Where it stops
Stop and call a professional if the person is confused, very drowsy or has stopped shivering while still cold: call your local emergency number, 911 in the US.
Check question
What does it mean if a very cold person stops shivering and grows drowsy?
Answer: Hypothermia is getting worse: call 911. Shivering stops as the body loses the ability to warm itself.
Your checklist
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Quick quiz
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Related skills
Sources
- US national first aid guidelines for lay responders, 2025. Reviewed September 28, 2026.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .