Ice & Cold

Warm a hypothermic person in the field

Field warming means stopping further heat loss and gently warming someone whose body has become dangerously cold, often after wet, windy exposure or cold-water immersion. Once immediate threats to breathing are addressed, get them sheltered, dry, and insulated, then add protected heat while arranging rescue when needed. Someone who seems drunk, confused, or drowsy may have severe hypothermia: keep them lying down, handle them gently, and do not make them walk, because rough movement can trigger cardiac arrest. Warming supports them while help arrives; it does not replace evacuation for significant hypothermia.

Ice & Cold 30 min practice Intermediate Use this skill in cold, wet, or windy conditions, including temperatures above freezing, especially after immersion or prolonged exposure. Choose the nearest safe shelter from wind and precipitation, away from floodwater, falling branches, and other hazards.

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Topic summary

Key takeaways

The person is sheltered from wind and precipitation, with thick insulation underneath and dry insulation around them.
Their face remains clear, the wrap has no major wind gaps, and clothing or straps do not restrict breathing.
Heat sources stay wrapped and comfortably warm, with no skin redness or other signs of burning.
In a mildly affected person, alertness and comfort improve; continued confusion, drowsiness, or worsening breathing means urgent help is still needed.
Avoid: Stripping the person in wind or rain increases cooling; establish shelter and prepare the insulating wrap before removing clothing.
Avoid: Putting a sleeping bag directly on cold ground allows continued heat loss; add a thick pad or other dry insulating layer underneath.

Intended uses

Ice & Cold skill (Intermediate, ~30 min practice)
Requires: Sleeping pad and sleeping bag, Shelter tarp or emergency bivy, Trauma shears, Leakproof bottles suitable for hot water, Phone or emergency communication device

Climate suitability

Use this skill in cold, wet, or windy conditions, including temperatures above freezing, especially after immersion or prolonged exposure. Choose the nearest safe shelter from wind and precipitation, away from floodwater, falling branches, and other hazards.

ProCPR — Cold-Related Emergencies Watch on YouTube

Awaiting qualified medical review. This first-aid lesson has not been reviewed by a medical professional. It does not replace medical care or formal wilderness first-aid training.

Safety: Call for rescue promptly for confusion, drowsiness, inability to walk normally, or shivering that stops while the person remains cold. If they become unresponsive, check breathing carefully because it may be very slow; if they are not breathing normally, follow emergency-dispatch instructions and begin CPR according to your training.

Required tools

Sleeping pad and sleeping bag
Shelter tarp or emergency bivy
Trauma shears
Leakproof bottles suitable for hot water
Phone or emergency communication device

Required materials

Dry spare clothing, including a hat
Cloth or towels for drying and wrapping heat sources
Warm drinking water
Sugar or a sweet drink mix

Step-by-step

Move them out of wind and off cold ground onto a pad, pack, or bough bed.
Why: Wind and cold ground continually remove heat, so nearby shelter and thick insulation underneath are the first barriers to further cooling. Move them only as far as necessary, keeping them supported and as horizontal as practical.
Cut off wet clothing and dry the skin. Wet cotton pulls heat 25x faster than dry.
Why: Once sheltered and ready to cover them immediately, cutting away wet clothing avoids unnecessary limb movement, and gently blotting the skin reduces evaporative cooling. Wet cotton loses much of its insulating value, but the claimed fixed heat-loss multiplier is not reliable.
Wrap in insulation: sleeping bag, spare clothes, tarp burrito over the top.
Why: A sleeping bag and dry clothing trap warm air, while a tarp around the outside blocks wind and moisture. Insulate the head and neck, leave the face clear, and maintain a thick insulating layer underneath.
Add heat sources at the neck, armpits, and groin — hot water bottles wrapped in a shirt work well.
Why: Wrapped warm-water bottles can supply heat near the neck and armpits, with priority given to the chest and upper torso rather than the limbs; groin placement requires particular care to avoid burns. Keep every source comfortably warm rather than hot, separated from skin by cloth, and check the skin frequently because a cold person may not feel burning.
Give warm sugary drinks only if fully alert. No alcohol.
Why: Warm sugary drinks supply energy for shivering, but only offer small sips if the person is fully alert, can swallow normally, and is not vomiting. Alcohol increases heat loss and impairs judgment.

Common mistakes

Stripping the person in wind or rain increases cooling; establish shelter and prepare the insulating wrap before removing clothing.
Putting a sleeping bag directly on cold ground allows continued heat loss; add a thick pad or other dry insulating layer underneath.
Rubbing limbs or making a confused person exercise can worsen their condition; keep them resting and handle them gently.
Using very hot bottles or placing heaters against bare skin causes burns; wrap heat sources and inspect the skin regularly.
Assuming stopped shivering means recovery can miss deterioration; judge alertness, breathing, and overall condition instead.

Troubleshooting

If shelter is unavailable, then create a windbreak with a tarp or terrain feature and minimize exposure while replacing wet clothing.
If wet clothing cannot be removed safely, then enclose it in a waterproof layer below the neck and add dry insulation outside until sheltered removal is possible.
If the person becomes less responsive, cannot swallow safely, or stops shivering while still cold, then stop drinks, request urgent rescue, and continue gentle insulation and protected torso warming.
If no heat source is available, then maximize insulation above and below, seal wind gaps, and arrange evacuation rather than relying on insulation alone to reverse severe hypothermia.

Field practice drill

Practice for about half an hour with a healthy, dry partner and no deliberate cold exposure. Select shelter, lay out ground insulation, simulate cutting off wet clothing without actually cutting, build a sleeping-bag-and-tarp wrap, and position cloth-wrapped bottles filled with comfortably warm water. Check that the face is clear, heat sources are protected, and breathing remains easy to observe; rehearse the rescue call, then swap roles.

Indicators of success

The person is sheltered from wind and precipitation, with thick insulation underneath and dry insulation around them.
Their face remains clear, the wrap has no major wind gaps, and clothing or straps do not restrict breathing.
Heat sources stay wrapped and comfortably warm, with no skin redness or other signs of burning.
In a mildly affected person, alertness and comfort improve; continued confusion, drowsiness, or worsening breathing means urgent help is still needed.

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.