Winter dangers & special precaution - Extra Health - Brief Article

Muscle & Fitness/Hers, Dec, 2002

If you prefer to exercise outdoors, winter weather means you need to take special precautions. Cold exposure can make outdoor activity dangerous or at least uncomfortable for unprepared athletes, and it's important to be aware of the early warning signs and symptoms of cold exposure. Shivering should be your first warning to seek shelter.

The two most dangerous conditions that can result from cold-weather exposure are frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite describes the freezing of superficial tissues of the face, ears, fingers and toes. Symptoms include pain, burning, numbness and tingling. The skin can turn hard and white, start to itch and peel or get blisters, and turn shiny and grayish-yellow. To help a frostbite victim, get the person to a warm, dry place and remove constrictive clothing. Raise affected areas and apply warm, moist compresses to these areas. Don't rub frostbitten areas or apply direct heat.

Defined as a significant drop in body core temperature. hypothermia is a more severe response to cold exposure. Symptoms include shivering; cold sensation, goose bumps, confusion and numbness; intense shivering, lack of coordination and sluggishness; violent shivering, difficulty speaking, mental confusion, stumbling and depression; muscle stiffness, slurred speech and trouble seeing; and unconsciousness. At the first sign of hypothermia, take the person to a dry, warm place or warm the victim with blankets, extra dry clothing or your own body heat.

The first line of defense against cold exposure is dressing appropriately for conditions. Other factors that can negatively affect your ability to handle cold temperatures can include inadequate nutrition, dehydration, alcohol consumption, certain medications, and health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which can significantly decrease a person's ability to exercise outdoors in the cold.