Cold temperatures put more strain on you because your body loses more heat than it produces. This can lead to health conditions caused by low body temperatures, such as hypothermia, frostbite, brain freeze, and other cold-related illnesses. Cold temperatures also weaken your immunity. Get professional medical advice from a licensed healthcare professional at Click Pharmacy for further prevention and treatment.
We have drafted these important guidelines to stay protected and go through this winter without any harm.
1. Protect yourself
It’s imperative to layer yourself to stay warm in winter properly. Make sure you have enough warm clothes and boots for the whole season. While going out, ensure that your hands, feet, head, and face are adequately covered and protected from the cold. Wear boots that provide insulation and a good grip on an icy surface, so you don’t slip or fall.
How should I dress for the winter?
You need to wear multiple layers of clothing to protect yourself properly from the cold.
- Wear loose-fitted clothes underneath.
- The topmost layer of clothing should be waterproof and windproof. Also, your coat or jacket should be tightly woven to keep maximum body heat in.
- Wear woollen winter accessories like a hat, scarf, mittens, earmuffs, and a face mask when going out.
How can I protect my skin in cold weather?
Cold weather makes your skin dry and flaky. Remember to moisturise your skin from time to time every day. Gently cleanse or exfoliate your face and body so that moisture is not entirely stripped off. You can also use a humidifier in your house to retain moisture in the air.
What happens to the skin when the temperature is cold?
Your skin is very sensitive to temperature differences and hence, responds accordingly. During winter, the skin loses a lot of moisture which makes it look dry and flaky. Cold weather also increases stiffness, numbness, and pain.
2. Staying outdoors
Staying outside for a long time without proper protection can cause hypothermia. Therefore, it’s necessary that you take all the precautionary measures while going out.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia usually occurs at extremely low temperatures, but it can also happen at cool temperatures like 4°C if you’re cold with rain, sweat, or being in cold water.
Under cold temperatures, your body loses heat faster than it can produce. Therefore, you need to stay warm and protected to preserve as much body heat as possible to avoid hypothermia.
Frostbite
Frostbite is a more severe effect of freezing temperatures and can damage the body permanently. It primarily affects the parts of your face (nose, ears, lips, cheeks, chin), fingers, and toes. If you’re not careful while going out, frostbite can occur, which in severe cases, may often lead to amputation. People with weak blood circulation or poorly dressed have the highest risk of frostbite. Make sure you’re active and covered from head to toe when you’re out.
Ice
Don’t walk on the ice as it is very dangerous. You may slip or fall and get injured. Every year, countless accidents are reported in the UK caused by ice-covered roads, pavements, driveways, and porches. Substances like rock salt and other de-icing agents can clean these pathways.
Avoid exertion
Cold weather puts more strain on your heart as it has to pump faster to keep your body warm. If you’re a heart patient, stay indoors and avoid going out as much as possible. Consult your doctor about work and chores in the cold. Go to Click Pharmacy if you can’t go out and need an appointment with a verified healthcare professional.
Weather updates
Regularly check weather updates on TV, radio, and social media. Be mindful of any guidelines that the government provides you with. Keep yourself and your loved ones informed about the temperature changes and practise precautionary measures accordingly.
3. Keep your home properly insulated
You need to make sure that your house is well-insulated during the harsh winter days. The following bullet points will help protect your home from increasingly cold temperatures.
- Check if your heating system is working well and has no issues. If it does, let the maintenance team know as soon as possible.
- Keep the temperature in your house at 20°C or above.
- Keep your doors and windows locked to prevent the freezing air from coming in. Use heavy curtains to block out the cold further.
- If you use a gas, wood stove, or an auxiliary heating system, ensure your house is adequately ventilated.
- If you need to use a generator in case of an emergency (e.g., excess load shedding or a power outage), install it outside your home or apartment building.
Which insulation would best keep a house warm in winter?
You can either use polyurethane foam or radiant barriers for good insulation. Polyurethane foam is a liquid plastic that expands when sprayed on a surface. It works well at both high and low temperatures. Radiant barriers reflect heat. They can be used in winter to prevent heat from escaping out, as well as in summer to prevent heat from coming in.
How do you keep a poorly insulated house warm?
The cheapest way to improve your insulation is to place aluminium foil on the wall behind your radiators. This will improve the insulation capacity of the walls, and your house will be able to keep more heat in from the radiators.
4. Take necessary preventive measures while travelling
While travelling or driving, keep the following preventive measures in check:
- If you’re driving, always use tire chains.
- Listen to the National Weather Service on the radio for any updates. Keep yourself informed.
- Do not drive or travel under low visibility. It’s very risky and dangerous. Wait for the conditions to get better.
- Avoid driving on ice-covered roads, bridges, highways, or underpasses as much as possible.
- You must have the following items with you while travelling: your mobile phone, a fully charged spare phone, a first aid kit, a set of warm clothes, a thermos with warm water or beverage, a torch, some snacks, and a winter emergency kit.
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol while travelling. Neither provides any heat nor any energy. Instead, they mess with your body temperature, which may lead to hypothermia.
