Know your Winter Safety

Winter season is around the corner and on it’s way. Preparing for winter is a necessity for some parts of the world. Are you able to recognize frostbite?

Winter can be beautiful with it’s gentle snow falls, fun in the snow activities like sliding, skiing , cross country skiing, snowshoeing and skating plus can’t forget the less favorite chores of shoveling snow off our vehicles or having to clear out paths and driveways for our friendly neighborhood postman and electrical meter wo/man.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature isn’t always about gentle, as she can bring extreme cold weather temperatures, blizzards and ice in her winds. Along with the extreme weather conditions some of us that must venture outside will need to prepare and know the dangers that exist with this particular season.

Frostbite is one condition that we are usually taught about at an early age. It is damage to tissues caused by extremely cold temperatures. The lower the temperatures, the shorter the time required to cause damage. Wind and blizzards also bring harm more quickly. It can affect any part of the body that isn’t properly covered but is usually our ears, fingers, and toes that are the most susceptible.

Frostbite is a localized cooling of the body and exists in two forms as follows;

– Superficial , affects the thickness of the skin
– Deep , affects the skin and tissues underneath

Superficial frostbite can easily lead to deep frostbite. You may feel and/or see the following signs and symptoms;

– white, waxy skin
– skin that is firm to the touch but tissues underneath are soft
– pain, in early stages

Deep frostbite is far more serious as it leads to ‘Gangrene ’ aka death of tissue and again one may see or feel the following signs and/or symptoms;

– white, waxy skin that turns grey-blue as frostbite progresses
– skin that feels cold and hard
– numbness

Treatment of frostbite must be done promptly, as follows ;

– Shelter, from further exposure to freezing temperatures.

– DO NOT massage the affected area.
– Cover affected area with warm hands or clothing.
– Warm hands with dry mittens and place in armpits.
– Warm feet in dry socks and rescuers armpits.
– Use warm water that is 40 degrees C + minimum. Check with your elbow. Cover in sterile dressing.
– DO NOT apply direct heat.
– DO NOT put snow on frost bitten area.
– Drink lots of water.

Deep frostbite treatment requires medical attention to the underlying tissue damage and hopefully prevent amputation. If caught outdoors a person can help suspected deep frostbite victims with first aid assistance by acting as a human crutch, pick-a-back carry, 2 hand seat or stretcher. Do not attempt to thaw the frozen part.

Attention to winter safety rules must be followed. It’s great that our children want to play outside but ensure that time spent outside is monitored. A drop in body temperature can lead to hypothermia not just frostbite. Our bodies will tell us with shivering and chattering teeth that we need to go indoors so we must learn to listen to our bodies. Also, keep a pot of hot chocolate or hot apple cider nearby.

Prevention with layered clothing and monitoring our time outdoors and the weather channel will decrease the hazards and risks to our personal well being and health. I love winters irregardless of the hazards and got to love the hot chocolate, toddies, apple cider and the soft glow of the fireplace and maybe one day, I will find somebody to help me count snowflakes?

On another note, these rules will also help our pets stay safe during the winter season too. My dogs rip their sweaters and pillows to shreds every year. They have well insulated dog houses but will come indoors during windy, snowy nights or extreme wind chills. My own dog even cries if the wind is howling but don't tell anybody. Read related –> here and there.

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Article(C)2011 Dame Scribe, all rights reserved. Dame Scribe creates articles and posts online. She creates articles on business skills & development, health, science, technology and society and has a strong passion for writing .