Hypothermia - children and babies

What is it?

Hypothermia occurs when body temperature drops below 35°C (95°F). Children are most at risk when they've been active outside for a long time in low temperatures, or have become wet (by falling into cold water, for example).

Symptoms

• Shivering
• Cold, pale, dry skin
• Listlessness or confusion
• Failing consciousness
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Weakening pulse

First aid aims

• Prevent further body heat loss
• Warm the casualty
• Get medical help

Actions

• Give the child a warm, not hot, bath
• When their colour has returned, help them out of bath, dry them quickly and wrap in warm towels or blankets
• Dress child warmly (including a hat) and put them to bed, covered with plenty of blankets
• Ensure room is warm
• Give warm drinks
• Stay with them
• Call a doctor

Hypothermia in babies

Babies can respond very quickly to being cold.

Symptoms

• Unusually quiet and refusing to feed
• May not necessarily change colour

Actions

• Check whether baby's skin feels cold
• Call a doctor
• Warm baby gradually by wrapping in a blanket
• Cuddle to transfer your body warmth to baby

This article was reviewed by the British Red Cross in April 2007.