Cold, frostbite and hypothermia

In short: In cold the body can cool down and frostbite and hypothermia can occur. Precaution and swift action are important, especially for children, older people and the homeless.

In more detail: Hypothermia is when the core body temperature falls below 35 degrees.

In detail

• Protection: Several layers, hat, gloves, warm shoes, wind protection.
• Avoid wetness: Wet clothing cools strongly.
• Alcohol: Dilates vessels and increases heat loss, does not protect from cold.
• Signs of mild hypothermia: Shivering, tiredness, confusion, pale skin.
• First aid: Bring to a sheltered place, change wet clothing, wrap in blankets, warm (not hot) sweet drinks (erste-hilfe-grundlagen).
• Frostbite: Do not rub affected areas, warm slowly and gently, have it treated medically.
• Severe hypothermia: Emergency call 112, transport carefully.
• At home: Mind heating and insulation (heizkosten-senken-und-richtig-heizen, hitze-im-sommer-richtig-schuetzen).