Temperatures are dropping and although we hate to think about the freezing weather approaching, this is the time to start preparing ourselves to keep warm – before it really gets cold.

If we’re in denial about anything, weather should not be it. Dressing as though it’s still the summer is risky business for our health because when we don’t take care to wrap up warmly, the risk of frostbite increases.

Frostbite occurs when cells die in freezing temperatures. It causes skin tissue to freeze and can result in varying degrees of harm. Frostbite most often affects the extremities due to prolonged exposure to the cold.

In cases of extreme frostbite, major tissue damage can cause blisters and hardening of the skin, in addition to the skin turning white. In some situations, the numbness and pain from frostbite lasts for years. Affected body parts may even have to be surgically amputated.

If we live within the city, particularly the downtown area, we are generally able to stay indoors enough to prevent ourselves from getting frostbite. A more common occurrence for people who spend less time outdoors in the winter is frostnip. Frostnip is a less severe version of frostbite, though it still damages skin tissue.

Frostnip can be remedied by adding extra warmth, but if we do not reverse the problem, frostnip can easily lead to the more serious frostbite.

When our bodies become too cold, we fail to generate enough heat to reach all of our extremities. The body reduces blood flow to those extremities in order to keep warm. This is a survival method to protect against hypothermia.

Prevent frostbite and frostnip by wearing appropriate clothing during the winter months. We tend to be negligent about covering our ears, so be sure to wear a hat to protect them from freezing. Always wear gloves or mittens before leaving the house and try to choose clothes that are good insulators. Because jeans let in a lot of the cold air, you can put on long underwear beneath them for that extra layer of protection.

Too many layers are better than too few! If you overheat, it’s easy to remove a layer.

If you do get frostbite, it is important to try to warm the frozen areas very slowly. One way to do this is to place the affected parts in warm water. Because frostbitten areas are often numb, we cannot always feel the affected parts, so they can feel like they are burning if we unknowingly submerge the affected areas in water that is too hot. The key here is not to shock the body by changing from one extreme temperature to another.

Getting out of damp clothes is also vital to prevent refreeze. Moisture traps the cold, undoing any frostbite treatment that you might already have started.

Take measures to stay warm and dry throughout this snowy season and you will be safe from the hazards of freezing temperatures!

University of Winnipeg student Sagan Morrow writes a health and wellness blog.

Published in Volume 64, Number 8 of The Uniter (October 22, 2009)