First Aid & Emergencies

Does a baby have a temperature of or lower?

Does an older adult have a temperature of or lower?

Do you have a temperature of or lower after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

Do you have a temperature of or lower and any changes in your mental state, such as inability to focus your attention, after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

Do you have a temperature of or lower and you have severe shivering after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

Do you have a temperature of or lower and you have cold, pale, white skin or patches of pink-purple or blue-gray skin after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

Do you have a temperature of or lower and stiff or numb arms or legs after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you think your baby has a low body temperature?

Do you think an older adult has a low body temperature?

Do you think you have a low body temperature after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

Do you think you have a low body temperature and you have changes in your mental state, such as inability to focus your attention, after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

Do you think you have a low body temperature and you have severe shivering after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

Do you think you have a low body temperature and you have cold, pale, white skin or patches of pink-purple or blue-gray skin after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

Do you think you have a low body temperature and you have stiff or numb arms or legs after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Does your skin feel hard and stiff like a "block of wood"?

Do you have severe or burning pain that is not better after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

Do you have cold skin that looks pale, white, pink-purple, blue-gray, shiny, or rubbery after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

Do you have cold skin that feels numb, tingly, or prickly after 1 hour of rewarming treatment?

Do you have blisters or sores from cold exposure?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have severe eye pain?

Do you think you have snow blindness?

Do you have any loss of vision?

Do you have blurred or decreased vision?

Do you have double vision?

Do you have severe sensitivity to light (photophobia)?

Have you had moderate eye pain or sensitivity to light for longer than 2 hours?

Do you have moderate eye pain or sensitivity to light that is not better after removing your contact lenses?

Has mild eye pain or sensitivity to light continued for 24 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have diabetes?

Do you have peripheral arterial disease?

Do you have a disease or take a medicine that causes problems with your immune system?

Do you have red streaks extending from the injury?

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the injury?

Do you have pus in or around the injury?

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around a wound for 24 hours or longer?

Have you had swollen glands (lymph nodes) near a wound for 24 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have Raynaud's phenomenon and your reaction to cold has gotten worse since your last visit to a doctor?

Have you had repeated episodes of your fingers, hands, feet, nose, or ears turning pale, white, blue, cold, numb, or tingly after exposure to cold temperatures?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you worried that the cold-injured skin has gotten dirty or has germs on it and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it.

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you need to call your health professional to discuss your symptoms and arrange for care.

• An appointment today is usually needed.
• Symptoms are unlikely to improve without medical care.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may wait to see if your symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or the specified time period). If symptoms improve, no appointment is needed.

• If symptoms do not improve after 24 hours (or the specified time period), an appointment within the next 24 hours is usually needed.
• If appropriate, try home treatment to relieve your symptoms.
• Check your symptoms in 24 hours, or sooner if there is any change.
• Call your health professional if symptoms get worse.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.