Fitness Friday: Cold Weather Injury Prevention

[pc747]

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With all the cold and severe weather we have had this week, for many of us on the east coast, we want to take a step back and make sure people are taking care of themselves out there. Whether you play sports, work outside, out wandering the streets, or volunteering make sure you button up as well as know when to take a break and get warm. Cold weather injuries include frostbite, frostnip, chilblains, and trench foot.

Chilblains is when an individual is exposed to cold and humidity causing tissue damage. The cold exposure causes damage to the capillary beds in the skin causing redness, itching, blisters, and inflammation. Chilblains will normally go away in a week.

Trench foot occurs when feet are wet for an extended period of time. Symptoms are tingling/itchy sensation, cold blotchy skin, numbness, prickly feeling in the foot that can result in tissue falling off and in severe cases loss of toes and/or foot.

Frostnip is a mild form of frostbite that irritates the skin and causes redness but for the most part will not cause permanent damage.

Frostbite is freezing of the skin resulting in the skin becoming hard an pale. Vulnerable areas are normally fingers, toes, ears, face, cheeks, and chin. Mild frostbite does not cause permanent damage and can be treated by rewarming the area but severe frostbite can result in infection and nerve damage .

Ways you can prevent cold weather injuries is to bundle up in layers. Instead of wearing one large jacket go with several layers so you can shed a layer or two to prevent sweating. The other important thing is to keep dry especially the feet. Powders and extra pairs of sock in a bag is a must if you are going to be out in the cold for long hours. Take breaks whenever possible to warm up and take in warm liquids. And if you are driving in an area hit by severe winter weather keep extra blankets and water in the trunk in case you get stranded in a ditch and are having to wait for help.

With severe winter weather hitting many areas hard this past week many of us do not have the luxury of staying in the house as some of use are still required to work and some outdoors. So make sure to plan, take your time, and leave early to allow time to commute. Sadly this is the time you will still see people driving fast while texting even though there is ice all over the place. All weather tires will not prevent a car from slipping on some ice though it may do a better job with traction.

We just want you, our Droid Forum family to be safe out there. Have a happy and safe weekend.

 

[Mustang02]

I don't advise keeping water in the car. It will freeze and explode. Been there some that.

If you're going to be doing strenuous activities, stretch! Cold muscles tear quick.