|  | Public Health Safety | Outdoor Safety

Risks of Walking Outside During a Blizzard

The best way to avoid harmful risks during a blizzard is to stay indoors. However, if it is completely unavoidable to stay indoors, you should be aware of the health risks involved when you are outdoors during a blizzard. When walking outside during a blizzard, it is of utmost importance you learn how to avoid these risks and treat symptoms associated with them.

  1. Cold Air in Lungs

    • Walking outside during a blizzard puts you at risk of breathing extremely cold air into your lungs. This can shock your lungs and cause the muscles around the air tubes to become tighter and thereby narrowing the passageway for the air to get through. To avoid this, cover your mouth while walking and breath through your nose as much as possible. Additionally, avoid taking deep breaths and talking unless it's absolutely necessary.

    Frostbite

    • Frostbite is a severe reaction when you're exposed to cold temperatures and can cause permanent damage to skin and other tissues. Signs of frostbite include burning, tingling, itching and loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in your fingers, toes, ears and the tip of your nose. Avoid frostbite by wearing layered clothing, preferably water-repellent mittens or gloves and a hat, to help keep you warm and avoid loss of body heat. Immediately get medical attention if you detect symptoms of frostbite.

    Hypothermia

    • Hypothermia is a condition that occurs when you have abnormally low body temperature. When your body temperature drops below 95 degrees you may show signs of hypothermia, such as uncontrollable shivering, memory lapses, disorientation, apathy, incoherence, slurred or slow speech, heart rhythm irregularities, drowsiness and exhaustion. If symptoms of hypothermia are detected it is important to get to a warm location, to change from wet clothes into dry clothes and to drink a warm, non-alcoholic or non-caffeinated beverage such as warm water or milk. Get medical attention as soon as possible as hypothermia can lead to kidney, liver and pancreas problems.

    Overexertion

    • Avoid overexertion, a condition wherein your body exceeds its physical capabilities, when walking in a blizzard. Overexertion, which can occur when walking in deep snow or from strain from the cold, can cause you to have a heart attack. If it is unavoidable for you to walk outside during a blizzard, make sure that you walk carefully, especially on icy sidewalks. Walking on ice can also cause you to slip and fall, which is not only painful, but can cause injury as well.

Outdoor Safety - Related Articles