Prevention of frostbite (frostbite)
There are a number of rules that will help you avoid frostbite with prolonged exposure to low temperatures. First of all, the prevention of frostbite is quitting smoking and drinking in the cold.
To minimize the loss of your own warmth, not to miss the first signs of frostbite and not to fall prey to the illusion of warming, it is important not to drink alcohol in the cold. Any intoxication causes increased heat transfer, since under the influence of alcohol peripheral blood vessels expand, which can be mistakenly perceived as heat spreading throughout the body, and a decrease in concentration does not allow timely notice of the first symptoms of frostbite.
Smoking is also a contributing factor to frostbite due to impaired peripheral circulation in the limbs under the influence of nicotine, which makes the arms and legs more sensitive to cold.
Preventing frostbite: choosing clothes
To ensure normal blood flow, you should wear loose clothing before going out into the cold. The most suitable suit for frost is a “cabbage” suit, which allows air to remain between layers of clothing, and the top layer should not allow moisture to pass through.
Shoes should be spacious, socks should be clean and dry, not causing discomfort when walking. Strongly sweating feet require extra attention. In this case, warm insoles and woolen socks that absorb more moisture will help to save yourself from frostbite.
Going outside, you must wear mittens, a hat, a scarf. Remember: gloves made from natural fabrics and fur do not save you from frost. It is better to lubricate the skin of the face with a special cream, and close the cheeks and chin with a scarf.
It is better to leave metal jewelry at home, as they cool faster and there is a risk of them sticking to the skin, which can cause pain and cold injuries to the skin. In addition, the rings can obstruct blood flow in the limbs.
Prevention of frostbite on the street
If in the cold a person finds himself in the company of familiar people, it would be better to entrust the observation of the state of his face to his comrades. Frostbite areas should be protected from repeated hypothermia, as the next skin damage can be much more serious. You can't take off your shoes in the cold: your legs may swell and your shoes will turn out to be small. It is important to get to a warm room as soon as possible.
Frozen hands can be warmed under the armpits. Arriving home, it is necessary to examine the limbs, back, ears, nose, etc. The parts of the body frozen during a walk should be examined and warmed up as soon as possible. Once in a stalled car, far from people and not knowing the road, it is better to stay in the car and call for help by calling the phone, or wait for another car passing the same road.
In the cold, you should hide from the wind, do not wet clothes and exposed skin, do not be outdoors with wet hair. If you fall into the water, you need to urgently undress and wipe the person, change into dry underwear, if possible, and deliver to a warm room. While in the forest, you need to make a fire, dry clothes over the fire, vigorously kneading until things dry. If you are going for a long walk in frosty weather, it is recommended to take with you spare socks, mittens and hot tea in a thermos.
Freezing temperatures consume a lot of energy, so you should eat before going out into the open air. It is important to take into account the individual characteristics of heat regulation, since in childhood the mechanisms of thermoregulation are still imperfect, and in old age and with a number of diseases, heat regulation may be impaired. A child walking in frost should go into a warm room every 15–20 minutes to warm up.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
