How does cold hurt the body?
Cold pulls heat away from your body faster than it can be replaced, especially when you are wet, in wind or tired. Fingers, toes, ears and the nose lose heat first and can freeze. Hypothermia is a drop in core body temperature that affects thinking and movement.
Both can happen faster than people expect, and they can happen at temperatures that are not extreme if the person is wet or the wind is strong.
Cold injury risk rises with fatigue, hunger, dehydration, alcohol, tobacco and some health conditions. Eat regular meals and drink warm fluids during long cold jobs.
- Frostbite on fingers, toes, nose and ears
- Hypothermia from long exposure
- Wet clothing that speeds heat loss
- Wind that makes cold feel colder
How should you dress for winter work?
Wear layers: a moisture-moving base layer, an insulating middle layer and a wind and water resistant outer layer. Cover your head, face, hands and feet, and keep spare dry gloves and socks nearby. Avoid cotton next to the skin, since it holds moisture.
Make sure boots fit with room for warm socks, since tight boots cut circulation. Take off layers if you start to sweat, and put them back on during breaks.
Mittens are often warmer than gloves, and a thin liner glove lets you do fine work without bare skin. Keep a dry spare set in the truck and in the barn.
What are the signs of frostbite?
Early frostbite can cause cold, numb, stinging skin that looks red, pale or waxy. Deeper frostbite makes skin hard, white or gray and may blister after warming. Numbness is a warning sign, because the part may no longer feel pain.
Do not rub the area. Get out of the cold, remove wet clothing and seek medical care. Avoid walking on frostbitten feet if you can.
If your skin turns white or waxy and feels wooden, do not keep working. Get indoors, and do not thaw it if it may refreeze, because repeated thawing causes more harm.
- Numb, stinging or waxy skin
- Skin that feels hard or looks gray
- Blisters after warming
- Do not rub or use direct heat
What are the signs of hypothermia?
Shivering, clumsiness, slurred speech, confusion and extreme tiredness are warning signs. Shivering may stop in severe cases, which is a sign of danger, not recovery. A person may seem irrational or unwilling to accept help.
Call 911, move the person to shelter, remove wet clothes, wrap them in blankets and warm the center of the body first. Give warm drinks only if they are awake and alert.
A person who is cold, clumsy and denying there is a problem needs help even if they object. Stay with them and keep them from further exposure while help comes.
How do you work safely outdoors in winter?
Use a buddy system or check-in plan, since a slip on ice or a stuck vehicle can quickly become an emergency. Plan breaks in a warm place and limit the time spent out in severe wind chill.
Check the forecast and warnings from the National Weather Service before leaving. Keep a winter kit in your vehicle with blankets, water, snacks, a flashlight and a charger.
Keep vehicles fueled and serviced in winter, and tell someone your route. If you get stuck, stay with the vehicle, run the engine only briefly with the tailpipe clear and keep a blanket in reach.
What about older adults, children and livestock?
Older adults and young children lose heat more easily and may not notice. Check on neighbors during cold snaps and make sure heating at home is safe and working. Your extension office can advise on shelter and water for animals.
Be careful with space heaters and generators. Carbon monoxide and fire risks go up in winter. Ask your fire department about safe heating and about alarms.
Check on neighbors who live alone, especially after storms and power outages. Share spare blankets, firewood or a warm place to stay if you can.
- Check on older neighbors
- Keep detectors working
- Never run a generator indoors
- Provide windbreaks and unfrozen water for animals
When should you get medical help?
Call 911 for confusion, loss of consciousness, severe shivering that stops or skin that is white and hard. Contact a doctor for any frostbite, since damage may not show at first.
Take care of yourself after a cold injury. Skin can stay sensitive to cold afterward, and your doctor can explain what to expect.
Ask your doctor if you have heart disease, diabetes, circulation problems or take medicines that change how you feel cold. They can advise on extra precautions.
Key takeaways
- Wet, windy and tired is the riskiest mix, even in modest cold.
- Dress in layers and keep spare dry gloves and socks.
- Numb, waxy or hard skin means get warm and seek care.
- Confusion and clumsiness are signs of hypothermia, so call 911.
- Use check-ins and a winter kit in your vehicle.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.