First aid advice on hypothermia will be added to the Fire Services Department's post-dispatch advice for emergency ambulance services from January 1.

During hypothermia emergencies, callers will be advised to warm the patients as soon as possible and avoid rubbing affected areas.

The department has been providing post-dispatch advice for emergency ambulance calls for common injuries like bleeding, dislocations or fractures, and burns, since May last year. Advice on convulsions and heat exposure was added last June.

The department said if callers stay calm and follow the instructions, the advice can provide patients with proper and immediate treatment prior to the arrival of the ambulance crew, and reduce the chances of a patient's condition deteriorating.