Winter is a great time to get outside and see something besides a TV screen. Go hiking, skiing, sledding, ice fishing or skating, but do it safely!

Here’s a handy list of three potentially deadly conditions/illnesses that commonly occur during the colder months, how to avoid them, and how to treat them.

1. Dehydration.

Dehydration is a common danger when doing any sort of physical activity, but many people do not expect it during the cold winter months because it seems to be a warm-weather condition.

In warm weather, dehydration occurs mainly when water leaves the body through sweat, and in cold weather the same can easily happen.

Symptoms

  • Dry mouth/throat
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Tiredness/Weakness
  • Muscle Cramps
  • “Blacking Out”

Avoid dehydration by drinking water. Also, wear layered clothing that can be removed if you get too hot and start to sweat.

Treatment

  • Drink water.
  • Start IV fluids, if necessary
  • Seek Professional Medical Treatment

2. Hypothermia

Hypothermia is literally the lowering of one’s body temperature to dangerous and even deadly levels.

Symptoms:

Mild

  • Shivering
  • Loss of fine motor skills

Moderate

  • Dazed Consciousness, confusion
  • Slurred Speech
  • Violent Shivering
  • Irrational behavior: Paradoxical Undressing – person starts to take off clothing, unaware he is cold

Severe

  • Decreased Pulse Rate
  • Patient curls up into fetal position to conserve heat
  • Muscle Rigidity
  • Death

Avoid Hypothermia by staying warm (duh!). Keep dry and avoid exposure to cold winds. Wear layered clothing; It traps heat, plus you can remove layers if you get too warm and start to sweat.

Treatment:

  • Reduce heat loss (by using a Hypothermia Blanket)
  • Drink warm, diluted Jello water. This is one of the only things that contain calories that can be absorbed by those with moderate to severe hypothermia.
  • Urinate. Body heat that should be used by other organs is used to keep urine warm.
  • Moderate to severe Hypothermia requires immediate medical attention.
  • CPR. CPR may be necessary if hypothermia causes the heart to stop, but can cause damage if the heart is still beating (even very slowly).
  • Seek Professional Medical Treatment.

    • 3. Frostbite

    As your body’s core temperature is threatened by winter chills, it restricts blood flow to the outer extremities. This helps hold heat in the most important areas of your body, but it leaves your hands and feet susceptible to cold weather injuries. When these outlying areas freeze (or begin to freeze) the condition is called Frostbite.

    Symptoms:

    • Numbness
    • Starts on cheeks, earlobes, fingers, and toes.
    • White, waxy outer layers of skin. (Mild)
    • Skin turns white and feels wooden all the way through. (Severe)

    Avoid Frostbite by keeping skin covered and dry. The use of Hand Warmers can help a lot to keep extremities warm. If fingers or toes become extremely numb, warm them by holding them against warm skin.

    Treatment:

    • Warm skin gradually.
    • Place the affected area against another warm body part (stomach or armpit).
    • Never rub frostbite.
    • Rewarm frostbite in water between 105-110 degrees. Be careful–warmer water can cause damage.
    • When in doubt, seek professional medical treatment.

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