Dashing Through the Snow, Don’t Forget the Sunscreen

By Michael M. Gleeson
TRICARE Management Activity

January 06, 2010: Winter is here, and with the colder weather comes a different set of challenges for those who enjoy spending time out-of-doors. Being adequately prepared for cool or colder weather can help TRICARE beneficiaries avoid some potentially dangerous situations. Listed below are a few serious health conditions that can occur during the winter months, the symptoms of each and information about what to do.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia develops when body temperature falls below normal due to exposure to cold. In the winter months, this condition often occurs during prolonged periods outdoors, either in wet clothes or without proper layering.

Signs of hypothermia include: a decline in body temperature, shivering and increasingly lethargic or clumsy speech. If any of these signs are detected, call 911 immediately, remove any wet clothing, wrap up in a dry blanket if possible and get indoors.

Frostbite

Frostbite is the freezing of the skin and body’s outer tissues. The condition happens most often on the body’s extremities: fingers, toes, ears and nose. Individuals with frostbite will feel a burning or numb sensation and the affected area will become pale, gray and blistered.

If frostbite occurs, do not rub the affected area. Place the affected body part in warm, but not hot, water. Continue this treatment for five minutes. Seek medical help if normal feeling and color do not return promptly after home treatment for mild frostbite.

Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when the body does not have as much water and fluids as it should, and can be brought on by losing too much fluid, not drinking enough water or fluids, or both. The condition is most closely associated with exposure to extreme heat, but during the winter it can be an often overlooked danger.

The symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, headache and dark urine. If these symptoms are detected, drinking fluids is usually sufficient. It is better to have frequent, small amounts of fluid (using a teaspoon or syringe for an infant or child) rather than trying to force large amounts of fluid at one time. For more serious cases of dehydration, intravenous fluids and hospitalization may be necessary.

Sunburns

Many people associate sunburns with long days on the beach, but the sun’s rays can still cause sunburn during winter, especially when reflected off snow. To prevent sunburn, cover exposed skin and wear sunscreen.

Being aware of and prepared for the current and forecasted weather during the winter can help prevent illness and injury from cold weather. For more information about winter weather and cold-weather safety go to http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/winter