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Winter Awareness
Exposure to winter weather can become life threatening. Here are some conditions to be aware of:
Frostbite...
Frostbite is damage to body tissue caused by freezing of the
tissue. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately. If you must wait for help, slowly re-warm affected areas.
Hypothermia...
Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature drops too
low. Warning signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. If a person’s temperature is below 95 degrees, seek medical care immediately. If medical care is not available, begin warming the
person slowly. Get the person into dry clothing and wrap them in a warm blanket covering the head and neck. Do NOT give the person HOT beverages or food; warm broth is better. Do NOT warm extremities (arms and
legs) first. This drives the cold blood toward the heart and can lead to heart failure.
Overexertion...
Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart.
Unaccustomed exercise, such as shoveling snow or pushing a car, can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse.
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