Dangers of Getting Too Cold

Dress warmly and know the warning signs of frostbite and hypothermia

You’re about to try out those new cross-country skis—what should you be wearing? As a skier himself, Louis Spikol, M.D., knows what he’d answer: polypropylene underwear, Gore-Tex® ski pants, fleece jacket and hat, lined gloves and gaiters (lower leg coverings). “You need layers of warm, waterproof clothes to protect against two cold-weather health threats: hypothermia and frostbite,” says Spikol, a family physician at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.

Frostbite is damage to your skin and underlying tissue, usually on toes, fingers and other extrem-ities, resulting from extended exposure to freezing temperatures. It can happen outdoors or from chemical icepacks applied directly to the skin.

At first you’ll feel tingling and numbness. Then the symptoms turn to burn-like pain, redness and blue discoloration with blisters. Severe tissue damage can require amputation. If you suspect frostbite, cover the affected area to keep it warm (not hot), prevent it from refreezing and get medical help immediately.

Hypothermia occurs when your core body temperature drops below 96 degrees. “Unlike with frostbite, the outdoor temperature doesn’t have to be that cold,” Spikol says. “Cool, damp weather is enough, especially if you’re wet from rain or sweat.

Symptoms develop gradually and include shivering, loss of coordination, slurred speech, cold pale skin and fatigue. If temperature drops too low, heart failure can result. If you suspect hypothermia, get indoors and raise your tem-perature with warm fluids and heated blankets.

This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM