What is the first thing you should do when approaching someone with a cold-related illness?

• A. Measure temperature
• B. Remove wet clothing
• C. Dry/warm patient
• D. Remove them from the environment

Answer: (D)

The first thing to do is get the person out of the cold environment. Moving them to a warmer, sheltered setting stops ongoing heat loss caused by wind, cold air, rain, or snow, which is the most immediate threat in a cold-related illness. Once they’re in a warmer place, you can begin rewarming and dressing them in dry clothing—removing wet clothes and drying/warming come next to restore body heat. Measuring temperature is useful for assessment, but it doesn’t stop the ongoing heat loss, so it isn’t the initial step.