What to do if…
a finger or toe suddenly becomes cold, pale or blue and painful

What to do now

1. Use emergency help for serious features. Call 999 or go to A&E now if the finger or toe is blue, grey or very pale and painful, numb, weak, hard to move, getting worse, or you feel very unwell.
2. If you are not sure whether it needs 999 or A&E, use your local urgent medical advice route now. In England, use NHS 111 online, the NHS App, or call 111; for a child under 5, call 111. In Scotland, call NHS 24 on 111. In Wales, use NHS 111 Wales or call 111. In Northern Ireland, use nidirect urgent-care information, your GP out-of-hours route, or Phone First where it is available.
3. Remove anything tight straight away. Take off rings early before swelling increases, loosen watch straps, and loosen shoes or socks around an affected toe or foot.
4. Keep warm without heating the digit directly. Move to a warm room, put on warm clothes or a blanket, keep the finger or toe protected and still, and avoid sudden temperature changes.
5. Take two quick photos for triage if this does not delay getting help. Photograph the affected finger or toe next to the other hand or foot in the same lighting, and note the time it started.
6. Tell 111, 999, A&E, or the emergency department the key details. Say whether it is only on one side, whether this has ever happened before, whether there was a cold or stress trigger, whether there was an injury, whether you are over 30 and this is the first episode, and whether you have diabetes, vascular disease, irregular heartbeat, recent surgery or any blood-thinning medicines.
7. Get ready to be seen. Bring your medicines or a medicines list. Do not drive yourself to A&E; ask someone to take you or call 999 if you need an ambulance.