When temperatures drop below freezing, the only protection from frostbite is adequate clothing including hat, footwear and mitts or gloves. Make sure that boots are not too tight, as tight boots can impair blood circulation. Make sure that clothing remains dry - change out of wet clothing as quickly as possible. Avoid contact with metal objects or fluids which do not freeze such as gasoline or antifreeze, because this contact will speed the freezing process. Be aware of the wind chill factor.
Wind greatly speeds up the process of body heat loss.
Any drop in body temperature must be treated promptly. There are several stages in the hypothermic condition. These range from the early stage where the person may feel the need to warm up, to the critical state where the person becomes unconscious. Hypothermia in children is not common, however, the effects are very severe. People who live in cold climates should be aware of what hypothermia is, how to prevent it and what to do if someone becomes hypothermic.