Likely yes, if the person is not in severe hypothermia. I would guess that many of us have experienced mild hypothermia at one time or another, possible even moderate hypothermia and have recovered without any outside assistance.

Where many run into trouble are days where the air temps. may hover around 45-55 degrees and the weather is damp or wet and a mild to strong wind is blowing. People will often dress for severely cold weather, but will often under estimate the weather in the spring and fall (and in some areas even summer time conditions especially at night) and travel/hike with cotton jeans, shirt, hat and light jackets. They get wet either by the weather or sweat getting their clothes damp. They stop to rest/snack and that mild breeze that felt good while hiking starts to steal body heat by convection and evaporation. If you have enough fuel on board (I am strong supporter of the importance of high energy food in a survival situation), the body will shiver producing body heat or if you resume hiking, the body will generally produce heat, maintaining body core temp. Ingesting warm liquids will assist in warding off mild to moderate hypothermia.

Children, especially young ones have a higher head to body surface area ration. Children need to have a warm, close fitting hat. The old adage if your feet or hands are cold put on a hat is not just an “old wives” tail; it is an essential survival technique.

Wool or synthetic (polypro, fleece) clothes in layers topped with a wind/rain barrier and a close fitting warm wool/fleece hat, coupled with high-energy foods and the ability to intake warm liquids will go along way in preventing/treating mild to moderate hypothermia.

Pete