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Ice & Cold

Warm a hypothermic person in the field

Get them dry, insulated, and out of the wind before you do anything else.

Ice & Cold 30 min practice
All skills

Topic summary

Get them dry, insulated, and out of the wind before you do anything else.

Intended uses

Ice & Cold skill (all levels, ~30 min practice)

ProCPR — Cold-Related Emergencies

Warning: A severely hypothermic person may seem drunk or drowsy. Handle gently — rough movement can trigger cardiac arrest.

Step-by-step

  1. Move them out of wind and off cold ground onto a pad, pack, or bough bed.

  2. Cut off wet clothing and dry the skin. Wet cotton pulls heat 25x faster than dry.

  3. Wrap in insulation: sleeping bag, spare clothes, tarp burrito over the top.

  4. Add heat sources at the neck, armpits, and groin — hot water bottles wrapped in a shirt work well.

  5. Give warm sugary drinks only if fully alert. No alcohol.

Warning: A severely hypothermic person may seem drunk or drowsy. Handle gently — rough movement can trigger cardiac arrest.

Related outdoor skills

Educational reference only. Wilderness conditions change fast — practice in low-stakes settings, take a certified wilderness first-aid course, and confirm regional regulations before you rely on any of these skills in the field.