Whether you intend to walk a few blocks or snowmobile in the wilderness, you need to respect the potential dangers that cold weather brings. You need to be prepared.
Two common cold injuries are frostbite and hypothermia. Never push yourself to exhaustion when in cold weather. Drink plenty of water during cold weather, just as you would in warm weather. You can get dehydrated if fluids are lost to sweating. Dehydration reduces blood flow to the skin, which can lead to cold injury.Wind, rain and snow can compound the effects of cold weather. Air temperature does not have to be low for you to suffer a cold injury. This is because wind blows heat away from your skin. The stronger the wind, the more heat is removed. The combined effect of cold air and wind is called windchill. Windchill means that a calm subfreezing day can do less damage to skin than a warmer, windy day. For example, the windchill associated with a 30-degree Fahrenheit temperature and a 20 mph wind is 4 degrees Fahrenheit. The windchill at a much colder 10 degrees on a calm day is still 10 degrees.
Rain and snow can wet the skin, causing greater heat loss. Avoid staying outside too long on a chilly day if you get rained or snowed on.
Clothing is critical. But don't wear too much. It can be tempting in cold weather to go overboard, but activity or exercise generates a lot of heat. Heat next to your body can cause sweating, discomfort and fatigue. Don't skimp on clothing either. The smartest dress code is the layered approach. The layers trap air to increase insulation and keep you warm. And you can remove layers to prevent overheating.
The inner layer should insulate and draw or wick moisture to the outer layers, where it can evaporate. Wear polypropylene close to your body because it wicks well. Avoid cotton (including denim) in any layer, because it soaks up moisture like a sponge and keeps it by your skin. Wool is a good idea in the middle layer because it serves as a good insulator even when wet.
The outer layer should be windproof, breathable and water-repellent. Keeping clothes as dry as possible under the outer layer is key. Wet layers don't insulate well and rob the body of heat. Outerwear made of Gore-Tex fabric works well.
Cover the fingers, toes, nose and ears because they are the most vulnerable to frostbite. Mittens are better than gloves because they let your fingers warm each other. Keep your feet dry and warm with a thermal insole or two pairs of socks.
Because you lose a lot of heat through your head, it's important to cover it. Wear a wool or polypropylene hat that covers your ears. A hat will hold heat in, but you can remove it easily and carry it if you get too hot.
Wearing a mask or scarf may be a good idea. Breathing cold air can trigger asthma or irritate bronchitis. Contrary to myth, though, you are in little danger of freezing your lungs.
Never drink alcohol. It contributes to dehydration and widens blood vessels, which means more heat loss. Alcohol also impairs judgment and reduces sensitivity to cold.
You can develop frostbite or hypothermia without feeling anything, but a friend may notice the signs.
- Frostbite: Frostbite - the freezing of flesh - is the most common cold injury. Frostbite occurs when skin temperature (normally about 93 degrees Fahrenheit) drops below freezing. In severe cold, flesh can freeze in under a minute. Prolonged exposure to milder conditions can be just as damaging.
When you are out in the cold, pay close attention to how your skin feels. You are headed for trouble if you experience numbness or tingling. Also watch for burning sensations and whitening of the skin. If you ignore these signs, you may get full-blown frostbite. Frostbitten areas may turn red, then blue, and blisters can form.
If you think you have frostbite, get indoors and warm the affected areas as quickly as possible. Place the toes or fingers in a basin filled with warm water or use towels soaked in warm water. You may feel pain during rewarming, so aspirin or other pain medication may help. Never rub the affected area.
- Hypothermia: Exposure to cold increases the risk of hypothermia - lowering of your core body temperature. When your body temperature drops to 95 degrees Fahrenheit from the usual 98.6 degrees your life is in danger. If the loss of body temperature is not reversed, you may stop breathing and die.
It may be hard to tell that your body temperature is dropping. Pay attention to symptoms like intense shivering (your body's attempt to generate heat), slurred speech and disorientation.
First aid focuses on elevating body temperature. Remove wet clothing and warm the victim's body with your own body heat. For severe hypothermic victims, do not try rewarming since such tries are usually unsuccessful in the field, get medical help as soon as possible.