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What to do if…
you have been in the cold and cannot stop shivering or feel confused

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Treat confusion, severe drowsiness, slow breathing, collapse, or worsening symptoms after cold exposure as possible hypothermia. Get to shelter or warmth now and call 999 or 112 for urgent help.

Do not do these things

  • Do not try to “walk it off” if you feel confused, unsteady, very sleepy, or worse than you expected.
  • Do not drive yourself anywhere if hypothermia is possible.
  • Do not use a hot bath, heat lamp, or direct heater against the skin to warm up.
  • Do not rub or massage arms, legs, hands, or feet to warm them.
  • Do not drink alcohol to try to warm up.
  • Do not stay alone while symptoms are ongoing, if someone else can stay with you.

What to do now

  1. Get out of the cold as quickly as you safely can. Go indoors, into a car with help nearby, or into a sheltered public place such as a shop, café, station, or public building.
  2. Sit or lie somewhere safe to reduce the risk of falling. If you cannot get indoors, get out of the wind and off the cold ground using a coat, bag, blanket, cardboard, or anything dry under you.
  3. Call 999 or 112 and ask for an ambulance if you are confused, very drowsy, hard to keep awake, breathing slowly, collapsing, or getting worse. Say: “Cold exposure, uncontrollable shivering, and confusion.”
  4. If someone is with you, ask them to make the call, stay with you, and keep talking to you until help arrives.
  5. Remove wet clothing if you can do this without delay or unsafe movement. Replace it with dry clothing, towels, blankets, coats, or a sleeping bag, and cover your head.
  6. Warm the body slowly, focusing on the chest, back, neck, and head. Keep movement gentle, especially if you feel clumsy, faint, or very tired.
  7. If you are fully awake and can swallow normally, sip a warm, sweet, non-alcoholic drink and eat a small high-energy snack. Stop if you cough, choke, feel sick, or become more drowsy.
  8. If a thermometer is already available, note the reading and the time, but do not delay shelter, calling for help, drying, or warming.
  9. If someone becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, call 999, put the phone on speaker, and follow the call-handler’s instructions, including CPR if told to do so.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide whether this is definitely hypothermia before asking for urgent help.
  • You do not need to work out the exact temperature, wind chill, or how long you were outside.
  • You do not need to gather perfect supplies before getting warm, dry, monitored, and medically assessed.
  • You do not need to explain everything clearly before calling; “cold exposure, shivering, confusion” is enough to start.

Important reassurance

Cold can affect thinking, coordination, and judgement, so it is normal to underestimate how serious the situation is. Taking it seriously and getting help is a protective step, not an overreaction.

Scope note

These are first steps only for the immediate situation. Later decisions, checks, or treatment may need a clinician or emergency responder, especially if confusion, drowsiness, slow breathing, injury, alcohol or drug use, infection, diabetes, or another medical condition may be involved.

Important note

This guide is general information, not medical advice, diagnosis, or professional assessment. If symptoms are severe, confusing, worsening, or you are worried about hypothermia, seek urgent medical help.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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