Cold exposure, wet clothing and hypothermia
Get dry, get insulated, warm gradually and handle the person gently.
Call 112 territory
What to do now
- 1Get out of wind and water; shelter matters as much as heat.
- 2Replace wet clothes with dry layers, including hat and gloves; insulate from the ground.
- 3Warm drinks and sugary food if fully awake and able to swallow.
- 4Warm gradually: skin-to-skin or warm packs at the chest, neck, armpits and groin.
- 5Call 112 if shivering stops, speech slurs, or the person becomes drowsy.
Do not
- 1Do not rub limbs vigorously or use hot water or a fire directly on cold skin.
- 2Do not give alcohol.
- 3Do not move a severely cold person roughly — it can trigger dangerous heart rhythms.
Seek urgent help if
- 1Confusion, slurred speech, stumbling, or shivering that has stopped in a cold person.
- 2Immersion in cold water, even if the person now feels fine.
- 3Frozen white or waxy fingers, toes, nose or ears.
Aftercare
- 1Keep warm and rested for several hours; re-warming takes longer than it feels.
- 2Get medical review after any cold-water immersion — problems can appear hours later.
This page is general first-aid guidance for anglers. It cannot diagnose an injury and does not replace professional emergency care. If you are unsure, call 112.