A loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, nose or ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite. Hypothermia occurs when body temperature drops to less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness and exhaustion are symptoms of hypothermia. If you suspect frostbite or hypothermia, you should:
- Begin warming the person slowly and seek immediate medical assistance.
- Warm the person's upper body first. Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of the limbs can drive cold blood toward the heart and lead to heart failure.
- Never give a frostbite or hypothermia victim something with caffeine or alcohol in it. Caffeine can cause the heart to beat faster and hasten the effects the cold has on the body. Alcohol can slow the heart and also hasten the ill effects of cold body temperatures.