There are plenty of unpleasant things supplied by the colder months\u2014holiday traffic, less daylight, and cabin fever, just to name a few\u2014but winter also brings serious dangers. As temperatures drop and the snow piles up, it\u2019s important to know how to treat cold-related injuries and conditions in case of an emergency.<\/p>\n
Slips and Falls<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019ve all encountered those pesky invisible patches of ice: suddenly your feet are above your head, and you\u2019ve got a few new bruises to show for it. Falls can cause more serious issues, though, like broken bones and head injuries.<\/p>\n Minor injuries\u2014bruises and sprains\u2014can be treated with the RICE method<\/a>. If the injured person can\u2019t move, is unconscious, or is in serious pain, don\u2019t move them until professional help arrives. If the person hit their head, look for the warning signs of a concussion<\/a> in the hours following the fall.<\/p>\n To avoid slipping on the ice, treat every walkway like it\u2019s covered in ice. If it takes waddling like a penguin<\/a> to keep yourself safe, so be it. If you find yourself falling, try to catch yourself, prioritize protecting your head, and drop anything you\u2019re carrying\u2014saving a bag of groceries isn\u2019t worth a serious injury to your noggin!<\/p>\n Frostnip and Frostbite<\/strong><\/p>\n Frostnip precedes frostbite and occurs when the tops layers of the skin freeze. The skin may be red, pale, or numb, but frostnip is easily reversible.<\/p>\n Get indoors if possible\u2014if not, protect the area from further exposure, and don\u2019t try to thaw the skin until there\u2019s no risk of it refreezing. Warm the area gradually by blowing warm breath or submerging it in body-temperature water (97-99 degrees).<\/p>\n To avoid damaging the tissue, don\u2019t rub the area, and don\u2019t use heating pads or fire to warm it\u2014numb skin is vulnerable to burns. There may be slight tingling or pain as feeling returns, but frostnip is not permanently damaging.<\/p>\n Frostbite, however, is more serious, occurring when ice crystals form between cells. Skin looks blue or pale when affected, but it might feel warm as the frostbite advances. Small, exposed parts of the body are especially susceptible, so keep your toes, nose, and fingers tucked away when you\u2019re in the cold! Frostbite is irreversible but possible to recover from if caught early; if left untreated, it can affect the muscles and bones.<\/p>\n Again, seek shelter. If possible, keep the victim from walking if their toes or feet are frostbitten, and get medical attention ASAP, especially if the case is severe. In the meantime, remove clothing that\u2019s wet or preventing blood circulation. Elevate the area, and follow the same gentle, gradual warming procedures described for treating frostnip.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not in a survival situation, avoiding the nips and bites of frost is mostly common sense: wear layers designed to keep you warm, avoid thin ice, and don\u2019t stay exposed to the cold for long periods of time.<\/p>\n Hypothermia<\/strong><\/p>\n Hypothermia happens when the body can\u2019t replace the heat it\u2019s losing. Early signs include disorientation, poor coordination, fatigue, and shivering; as it advances, look for pupil dilation, shallow breathing, and irregular pulse. The victim may also stop shivering as their body loses its ability to warm itself.<\/p>\n Call for help\u2014hypothermia can be fatal. Get the victim indoors or to shelter and help them lay down. Layer them with warm clothes and blankets, removing any wet garments. Hot packs\u2014wrapped in towels to protect the skin<\/a>\u2014can be placed in areas that lose heat quickly, like the armpits and groin.<\/p>\n If the victim is already unconscious, the hypothermia has advanced to a life-threatening stage. Wrap the person in blankets, and get them immediate medical help. If they stop breathing or have no pulse, begin CPR.<\/p>\n Not CPR-certified? We can help! Specialized Health and Safety offers virtual, on-site, or blended CPR classes<\/a> for your workplace or home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are plenty of unpleasant things supplied by the colder months\u2014holiday traffic, less daylight, and cabin fever, just to name a few\u2014but winter also brings serious dangers. As temperatures drop and the snow piles up, it\u2019s important to know how to treat cold-related injuries and conditions in case of an emergency. Slips and Falls We\u2019ve all encountered those pesky invisible … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1018,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1017"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}