Severe frosts in New York: how to avoid hypothermia and frostbite

January 29 became coldest day in New York in two years. According to Gismeteo, as of 10:00 am on January 29, the air temperature in New York was -7 degrees Celsius, but felt like -18 degrees Celsius. Freezing temperatures are also expected on Saturday and Sunday.

In such weather, you can very quickly get hypothermia, because sometimes even frost is not needed for it. Believe me, if you don't dress for the weather, you can get hypothermia even at a temperature of + 5 ... + 10 degrees Celsius.

There are a few simple rules to avoid hypothermia and frostbite in extreme cold:

1. Do not drink alcohol - alcoholic intoxication (however, like any other) actually causes a large loss of heat (due to the expansion of peripheral vessels), at the same time - the illusion of warming. An additional risk factor is the inability to focus on the signs of frostbite.

2. Do not smoke in the cold - Smoking reduces peripheral blood circulation and thus makes the limbs more vulnerable.

3. Do not walk in the frosty weather down the street hungry, tired.

4. You can not walk in the cold after injuries and blood loss.

5. Wear loose clothing - it contributes to normal blood circulation.

6. Dress like a cabbage - at the same time, there are always layers of air between the layers of clothing, which perfectly retain heat.

7. Outerwear must be waterproof.

8. Pay special attention to shoes. This primarily concerns those who often sweat feet. You need to put warm insoles in your boots, and instead of cotton socks, wear woolen socks - they absorb moisture, leaving your feet dry. In addition, tight shoes, lack of insoles, damp dirty socks are not only the cause of blisters, but also often serve as the main prerequisite for the appearance of scuffs and frostbite.

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9. Do not go out into the cold without mittens, a hat and a scarf. The best option is mittens made of moisture-repellent and windproof fabric with fur inside. Gloves made of natural materials, although comfortable, do not save you from frost. The cheeks and chin can be protected with a scarf.

10. In windy cold weather, before going outside, lubricate the open areas of the body with a special cream, lard or animal oil (but not vegetable).

11. Do not carry heavy objects (bags, baskets), which squeeze the vessels of the hands, which contributes to freezing.

12. Do not use moisturizer for face and hands.

13. Do not wear metal (including gold, silver) jewelry in the cold. - rings, earrings, etc. First, the metal cools down much faster than the body to low temperatures, as a result of which it may "stick" to the skin with pain and cold injuries. Second, the rings on the fingers impede normal blood circulation. In general, in cold weather, try to avoid contact of bare skin with metal.

14. Get help from a friend - Watch your friend's face, especially ears, nose and cheeks, for any noticeable color changes, and he or she will watch yours.

15. Don't let the frostbitten spot freeze again - this will cause much more significant damage to the skin.

16. Do not take off your shoes from frostbitten limbs in the cold - they will swell and you will not be able to put your shoes back on. It is necessary to reach a warm room as soon as possible. If your hands are cold, try warming them under the armpits.

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17. Returning home after a long walk in the cold, be sure to make sure that there are no frostbites limbs, back, ears, nose, etc. If left on its own, frostbite can lead to gangrene and the subsequent loss of a limb.

18. As soon as during a walk you feel hypothermia or freezing of the limbs, you need to go to any warm place as soon as possible. - shop, cafe, house - for warming up and inspecting places potentially vulnerable to frostbite.

19. If your car stalled away from the village or in an unfamiliar area, it is better to stay in the car, call for help by phone, or wait for another car to pass along the road.

20. In winter, on the road, you must remember that snow is a very poor conductor of heat, therefore, during a blizzard, it is better to bury yourself in the snow and wait until it dies down than to risk getting lost and freezing.

21. Hide from the wind - the probability of frostbite in the wind is much higher.

22. Do not wet your skin - water conducts heat much better than air. Don't go out in the cold with wet hair after a shower. Wet clothes and shoes (for example, a person fell into the water) must be removed, wiped dry, if possible, put on dry clothes and brought the person to a warm place as soon as possible.

23. For a long walk in the cold, it can be useful to take with you a pair of removable socks, mittens and a thermos with hot tea.

It should be borne in mind that in children, the body's heat regulation is not yet fully debugged, and in the elderly and in some diseases, this function is impaired. Such categories are more prone to hypothermia and frostbite, and this should be taken into account when planning a walk. Letting your child go for a walk outside in frost, remember that it is advisable for him to return to warmth and warm up every 15-20 minutes.