Prevention and Treatment of Cold Weather Injuries

Dressing appropriately for the cold weather is determined by the amount of time and activity a person will be spending outside. The best rule of thumb to apply before heading outdoors is to insure all exposed skin can be protected by the cold to keep the body warm. If being outside warrants intense physical activity, wearing multiple thin layers, protecting the body’s torso from the neck to the waist and from the waist down is recommended, but not so many layers that is restricts movement. The feet can be protected with a simple pair of socks and a good pair of warm water proof shoes or boots rated for the cold weather. As activity increases outdoors, the body will turn its automatic cooling system on and it will begin to perspire, even in the cold. The way to combat the perspiring is to reduce the amount of clothes one has on by taking off layers during activity. This allows for the breath-ability of the clothing that is left on and will prevent the remaining clothes from being saturated with perspiration. If the clothing does get saturated with sweat, the body will get cold and may cause a cold weather injury if the person does not go back inside and change out of the wet clothing.

Image via Wikipedia

The two main cold weather injuries are hypothermia and frostbite and they both can cause death if left untreated. Hypothermia occurs when the body’s natural ability to warm itself fails. Shivering uncontrollably, numbness of the skin, non responsive stare, confusion and loss of consciousness are all signs and symptoms of hypothermia. Contrary to popular belief, a person can get hypothermia when the air temperature is above freezing; a couple of good examples to this are, while being wet or damp or if the wind is blowing. The immediate treatment of hypothermia is the key to their survival. If the person is unconscious and not responsive, your local emergency number for help must be called immediately. Get the person to a warm area immediately and make them as comfortable as possible by taking off all wet clothing and drying them completely. Gradually warm the victim with a blanket and if they are conscious it is OK to give them warm fluids containing no caffeine or alcohol.

Image via Wikipedia

Frostbite is the freezing of body parts. It can cause the loss of limbs such as fingers, hands, arms, legs, feet and toes. The lack of feeling during prolonged exposure to the cold can be the first symptom of frostbite and it should be treated as such. If the skin becomes very cold to the touch and has a waxy appearance and is discolored to pail white, yellow, gray or blue black take immediate action and seek help fast. Call the local emergency number to send for help immediately. First response treatment in the absence of official emergency responders suggests handling the affective area gently to insure no further injury occurs. Do not attempt to re warm the affected area if there is a possibility of it refreezing or if official medical attention will arrive in a short period of time. Do not rub the affected area, because it will cause further damage to soft body tissue. If it is possible get to a warm area, do so immediately. Do not attempt to re warm the area in a non natural way like putting them in hot water or on a space heater, while this will cause further injury. Keep the skin exposed to the natural air temperature indoors, so that the skin temperature increases gradually until official responders arrive. Place cotton or gauze between the affected areas such as fingers or toes and wrap loosely with a bandage. If blisters have formed, never attempt break them. It is possible for a frostbite victim to get hypothermia while waiting for help to arrive, always monitor for these signs and symptoms and treat if necessary before qualified medical help arrives.