Friday, January 08, 1999
Surviving the cold
As the chill persists, take precautions against typical winter worries
BY SUE MacDONALD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
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Children's bodies can't conserve heat as well as adult bodies can.
(Craig Ruttle photo)
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Not only is it cold outside, it's icy slick.
Local emergency rooms this week have treated a fair share of frostbite cases and a few people suffering from hypothermia, or severe loss of body heat. Snow-covered stairs and slippery sidewalks and parking lots have produced a few broken legs, fractured wrists and twisted ankles.
Last week's storm officially kicked off the cold-weather season, and even though the below-zero temperatures have eased, frigid weather packs a wallop for people who are unprepared for or unaware of its consequences. Most at risk: young children and older people, whose bodies can't conserve and create heat as quickly, and anyone with an underlying health condition.
“If you're going to be outside, make sure you dress warmly and dress in layers,” says Dr. Steve Baxter, emergency medicine physician at University Hospital. “If it's cold and windy, make sure you cover yourself — use scarves or face masks so you don't have a lot of exposed skin.
“If you have elderly relatives or friends, check and make sure that where they're staying is warm enough,” he says. “And if we get a couple of inches of snow on top of the ice that we have, people will have to be careful because of the ice underneath. Walk slowly, and take your time.”
Follow these preventive steps to reduce your risk of injury in the face of Old Man Winter and Mother Nature.
Frostbite
Frostbite can happen when temperatures dip below 23 degrees Fahrenheit. Body fluids freeze under the skin, causing the formation of tiny ice crystals that damage nearby cells.
Symptoms of frostbite include tingling that turns to numbness and pain; skin that looks waxy; discolored skin (white, red, yellowish, blue/purple); pain. If pain goes away, it's possible tissue has been damaged permanently.
If you suspect frostbite:
• Gently wrap the affected parts in a blanket, dry clothing, or several layers of newspaper.
• Do not rub or massage the frostbitten skin.
• Gradually rewarm the skin by immersing it in warm water (100-105 degrees) until normal color and feeling return. Do not let the affected part touch the side of the container while soaking. Do not use hot water. Do not break the blisters that form. Do not rewarm the skin if there's a chance it will be re-exposed to cold and become frostbitten again.
• Seek emergency medical help.
• Remove wet clothes and replace them with dry clothes.
• Do not expose frostbitten areas to intense heat of a stove, radiator, open fire, or heating pad. Rewarm the person with warm drinks (not alcohol).
• Apply dry, sterile gauze to prevent infection. If blisters, sores or wounds remain after skin is rewarmed, see an emergency doctor.
Hypothermia
When the body's temperature drops abnormally low, hypothermia can set in. If core body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, for example, the heart begins beating erratically and death can occur. With severe hypothermia, body temperature is 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit. Often, people with hypothermia also have frostbite.
Symptoms of hypothermia include:
• Uncontrolled shivering, slurred speech, incoherence.
• Slow, irregular heart beat.
• Numbness; glassy stare; memory loss; disorientation.
• Apathy, drowsiness, apparent exhaustion and decreasing levels of consciousness.
If you suspect hypothermia:
• Take the person to a hospital as soon as possible or call 911.
• Wrap the person in warm blankets or clothes and provide a warm shelter. Remove wet clothing and replace with dry clothes or blankets.
• Give the person warm non-alcoholic drinks.
With severe hypothermia, the person may exhibit an altered mental state or become unconscious. The person may stop shivering. First aid tips include:
• Check breathing and pulse. If you are alone with someone who's not breathing and/or has no pulse, call 911 and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Take the person to an emergency room immediately.
• Remove wet clothing and wrap the person in warm blankets.
• Use hot water bottles, heating pads or warmed blankets to rewarm the person. If necessary, lie next to the person so your body heat can warm the person.
Weather gear
The American Red Cross offers this advice for cold-weather coping:
• Dress in layers for insulation. Wear a hat or scarf, since up to 75 percent of body heat can be lost lost through the head.
• Keep yourself and your clothes dry. If you plan to be outside for long periods, take extra socks and mittens (mittens are warmer than gloves). Wear waterproof shoes or boots.
Keep a first aid kit at home and in the car, and make sure your car has an ice scraper, sand, small shovel and salt mixture.
Wind chill
It's a National Weather Service creation, but wind-chill factor is a way of reminding people of the extra-chilling effects of wind when it's cold outside.
Both wind and moisture can speed the loss of heat from the body. A 20-degree Fahrenheit temperature plus a 20 mph wind produces a chilling effect comparable to 10 degrees below zero. A temperature of 0 with a 20 mph wind is similar to -39 degrees Fahrenheit.
If possible, stay out of wind and cold. Dress appropriately. Replace wet clothes with dry ones.
Falling
Betty-Perkins Carpenter, author of How To Prevent Falls (Senior Fitness Productions; $9.95), offers these tips for reducing the risk of injury if you fall.
• If you feel yourself starting to fall, don't fight it. Don't brace your arms to catch yourself, because the added tension in your arms, legs and upper body can increase the risk of breaking/fracturing bones or tearing ligaments.
• When you fall, slump in the direction of the fall and roll with it. Stay loose and slumped, not tense and tight. (Try to protect your head).
• Practice falling at home by standing in front of a padded chair or bed. Let every muscle in your body go limp as you slump and fall into the chair or onto the bed. Be like a rag doll. Practice falling several times, backward and forward, so you get accustomed to the feeling of falling in a relaxed and loose way. Doing so trains your body to fight the reaction to brace or catch yourself.
Shoveling
The physical exertion required of snow shoveling can put added strain on the heart and increase the risk of a heart attack. The American Heart Association recommends these precautions when shoveling snow:
• If you have heart disease or a chronic health problem, make sure you've talked with your doctor about physical limits before shoveling snow or doing anything strenuous in cold weather.
• Use a short shovel with a small scoop. Push the snow, don't lift it. Don't overdo it; take your time.
• Don't fill the shovel completely, especially if snow is wet and heavy. Keep the shovel close to the body.
• Wait an hour or so after eating before shoveling.
• Take frequent breaks.
• Stop shoveling immediately if you notice a rapid heart beat, shortness of breath, nausea that won't ease, fatigue or pain/pressure in the chest, arms or neck. If symptoms don't lessen within a few minutes, call 911.
Sledding do's, don'ts
It's incredibly fun, but sledding can be risky. Here are some tips from Now I Know Better (Yale Children's Hospital; $7.95):
• Never go sledding alone.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
• Don't put too many people on the sled, and don't stand up or goof off while sledding.
• Don't sled in areas with trees, fences, poles, rocks, concrete barriers or if the end of the run leads onto a road, street or frozen pond.
• Inspect the sled, especially if it's old. Plastic sleds are quicker but can't be stopped easily. Sleds with runners can sever a child's finger.
• Choose hills according to a child's age and maturity.
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