Emergency advice

Hypothermia in babies:

  1. Take them to a warm room and dress them in warm clothes.
  2. Wrap in blanket.
  3. Call 999.

What is hypothermia?

Hypothermia is a condition that occurs when someone’s body temperature drops below 35°C (95°F). Normal body temperature is around 37°C (98. 6°F). Hypothermia can become life-threatening quickly, so it’s important to treat someone with hypothermia straight away.

Signs and symptoms

A baby may:

  • be cold to touch
  • be quiet and sleepy
  • be limp
  • refuse to feed.

What to do

  1. If you suspect a baby has hypothermia, take them to a warm room and dress them in warm clothes.

    • Do not place any direct heat, such as hot water bottles, near a baby as they can cause burns.
  2. You can also wrap them in a blanket and hold them close to you to help to warm them up.

  3. Call 999 or 112 for emergency help. Keep trying to warm them until help arrives. 

Browse our first aid products:

Blankets

Blankets

Shop now


Our training courses:

First aid courses

First aid courses

View


Related first aid advice

Who should I call?

At some point in their life, most people will witness or be involved in an accident or medical emergency. Knowing what to do and when you should call the emergency services can potentially save lives.

How to do CPR on a baby (under one year old)

If a baby is not responding to you and not breathing normally, you will need to call 999 or 112 for emergency help and start CPR straight away. Learn what to do.

Drowning child

When a child is drowning, they may go easily unnoticed. Find out what to look for and what to do.

St John Ambulance volunteers providing support