Winter brings frigid temperatures and fierce winds, leading to cold-weather injuries ranging from slip-and-falls to frostbite.
Here are some tips to prevent injuries due to cold weather:
Dress Warmly and Stay Dry
Wear:
* A hat, scarf, and/or a knit mask
* Mittens when possible since they are warmer than gloves
* Water-resistant coat and boots
* Several layers of loose-fitting clothing.
Keep sleeves snug at the wrist. Be sure the outer layer of your clothing is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heat loss caused by wind. Wool, silk, or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than cotton. Stay dry-wet clothing chills the body rapidly. Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm. Do not ignore shivering. It’s an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.
Avoid Exertion
Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold. Otherwise, if you have to do heavy outdoor chores, dress warmly and work slowly. Remember, your body is already working hard just to stay warm, so don’t overdo it.
Understand Wind Chill
The Wind Chill index is the temperature your body feels when the air temperature is combined with the wind speed. For example, when the actual air temperature of the wind is 40ºF (4ºC) and its velocity is 35 mph, the exposed skin receives conditions equivalent to the still-air temperature being 11ºF (-11ºC).
Frostbite: What to Look For
The extent of frostbite is difficult to judge until hours after thawing. There are two classifications of frostbite:
* Superficial frostbite is characterized by white, waxy or grayish-yellow patches on the affected areas. The skin feels cold and numb. The skin surface feels stiff and underlying tissue feels soft when depressed.
* Deep frostbite is characterized by waxy and pale skin. The affected parts feel cold, hard, and solid and cannot be depressed. Large blisters may appear after rewarming.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a critical lowering of body temperature. As with frostbite, staying warm and dry is very important. Wear warm, water-resistant, wind-proof clothing and dress in layers. Cover the head, neck, mouth, nose and hands with a hat, scarf and gloves. Avoid touching cold objects, as they will quickly steal heat from the body. Hypothermia has different symptoms for children and adults. Adults may experience shivering, drowsiness, memory loss, confusion, clumsy hands or slurred speech. In children, hypothermia symptoms include less energy, and cold, bright red skin. Individuals experiencing any of these symptoms should be taken to the hospital immediately.
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