Hypothermia
Learn how to help someone who has hypothermia.
With regard to the current coronavirus crisis, guidance can be found in our Guidance and Support section. Please always consider your own personal safety first when delivering first aid.
Learning objectives
- Learn first aid skills
- Feel confident to help someone who needs first aid
- Feel able to help someone in need of first aid
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Michael and his friends are on a hike, when Allanah falls into a lake. Michael realises she is very cold and gets his friends to help.
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Some friends and I were on a hike - training for our Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award. We were walking on a really narrow path next to a lake when Allanah slipped and fell into the water.
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It happened so fast – she was there one second and in the icy water the next. We pulled her out as quickly as we could but she was soaked and really upset.
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Once she had calmed down, we started walking again. We thought she would dry off pretty quickly; she was only in the water for a minute. After walking for a while we stopped for a break.
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As the rest of us chatted, Allanah grew really quiet and began to look ill. We noticed she was really shivering, her teeth were chattering and she felt very cold to touch.
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We realised Allanah was showing signs of hypothermia. She was awake but didn’t seem to understand what was going on around her.
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I called 999 and explained what had happened while the others helped Allanah change into drier clothes and a warm hat. Freya had a blanket in her bag, which she wrapped around Allanah.
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We stayed with Allanah while we waited for help to arrive. We kept telling her she would be alright.
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We helped her to warm up with a hot drink and gave her some chocolate from our packed lunches too. I feel bad for not getting help sooner but at least we realised before it was too late.
nextApart from being cold, what other signs might suggest someone has hypothermia?
If you think someone has hypothermia, what is the key action to take while you wait for help to arrive?
Take action: If someone has hypothermia, warm the person.
Start OverHow to treat a person with hypothermia
Step 1.
The environment is cold. The person may be shivering, pale and cold to touch. They may also be disorientated.
Step 2.
Call 999 as soon as possible, or get someone else to do it.
Step 3.
Warm the person, by wrapping them in a blanket or warm clothes and giving them warm drinks and high-energy foods, such as chocolate.
Learn
These activities help young people learn what to do when someone has hypothermia.
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Hypothermia – learn activity
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Hypothermia – learner skill guide
Practise
These activities help young people practise how to help someone who is has hypothermia.
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First aid skill - practise activity ideas
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Hypothermia - practise role play
Practise all first aid skills
These activities help young people to practise more than one first aid skill.
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Helping others
Learn about the bystander effect, what inspires people to help and the qualities of people who act.
Safety and wellbeing
Learn and practise how to keep safe, use coping skills and look after your wellbeing when helping others.
Share and remember
Share what you’ve learned with others and remember your learning
Secondary guidance and support
This section includes curriculum links, a teacher and educator guide and everything you need to get started.
