subject: Cold Weather Self Care [print this page] There is no dispute that many people only enjoy the summer months, however there are many others who really enjoy the cold winter months as well, so much so that they enjoy the great outdoors during this type of weather. When the cold winter temperatures hit the subzero levels, it is important to stay healthy and safe.
The out of doors can be very dangerous for the elderly and for young children. Of course, this is because these two groups tend to be frailer and have less ability to keep the warmth within their own bodies. Young people and elderly ones should only limit outdoor time to short increments and should always be near enough to a warm indoor location that they can make the transition to safety in just a few minutes. This helps especially because some times it takes them until the very last minute to realize that they are experiencing a crisis.
When spending time in the great outdoors during the colder weather, it is important to realize that everyone's tolerance is different and therefore it is not easy for anyone to judge how the weather might effect someone else. Factors such as normal body temperature and the amount of fat an individual has upon their body are factors that can significantly affect the way in which the outdoor temperature may affect each individual.
If anyone is considering outdoor time they should spend some cold time planning, taking into account the time they will be out in the cold temperatures. They should focus much of the attention on the exposed skin areas and the extremities that are highly susceptible to cold weather damage. Covering the skin in particularly these areas will significantly reduce windburn and frostbite from becoming a problem. Cover the face and neck as much as possible. This will protect the ears as well and if the head gear protection covers all the head with only eye holes, this is considered the best protection to invest in.
The great outdoors can be a lot of fun anytime, but is wise to better prepare your outing and stay as safe as possible. Take the necessary precautions, cover up and dress the part and make sure that you stay hydrated; this is often overlooked as being as important as the other precautions. Just these small things can make significant differences in staying cold weather healthy and safe.
