Already this winter we have felt the full effects of freezing temperatures and heavy snow.
In many parts of the country, transport ground to a halt and people found themselves trapped in their cars for hours on end in a snowy gridlock.
Those on foot have had to negotiate icy pavements and then waited for trains and buses that were not running. All of us have shared one common experience – we’ve felt cold.
What happens to our bodies when we are exposed to cold weather? Probably the first thing you’ll notice is that you’re shivering, which is a defence mechanism against your body temperature falling. The muscle contractions caused by shivering help to throw off heat that can help the rest of your body stay warm. Stamping your feet and swinging your arms around produces the same effect.
Intense cold can have an effect on blood pressure, causing it to go up as the cold triggers the fight or flight response. The heart begins to pump faster which causes blood vessels to tense up.
When it’s cold the blood vessels in the middle layer of the skin (the dermis) constrict, helping to retain heat in the body. Our body temperature is regulated within the hypothalamus part of the brain, which sends out messages to the body to react to cold by shivering.
If the body is exposed to extreme cold for a prolonged period, it cannot provide enough responses to maintain temperature and becomes exhausted. It then starts to shut down, a process known as hypothermia.
If this situation continues the heartbeat slows down and the condition can become life threatening. The brain also starts to slow down and our thinking can become muddled and it becomes hard to make rational decisions and take appropriate action to warm the body up again.
So, now we know a little more about how the body reacts to the cold, but what can we do to help our bodies keep us warm?
Firstly, we can wear clothes appropriate for cold weather. Offshore workers are provided with clothing suitable for cold weather conditions as part of their PPE (personal protective equipment). It needs to be comfortable so that they can move around and work easily and, as well as being waterproof, it should also be permeable so that air will circulate.
When back onshore and facing cold weather it is a good idea to wear several layers of clothing rather than one bulky, thick garment. Clothing made of cotton, wool or synthetic fleece is recommended and, if it’s really cold at night, why not try bed socks.
When you’re out in the snow the last thing you want is wet feet, so make sure you have sturdy boots that will keep your feet dry. Your footwear should also be permeable to prevent your feet from sweating and cause them to get wet and cold. Boots with ridges on the soles will make it easier to walk about on icy surfaces without slipping.
A warm hat with earflaps will help keep you warm and protect you from the wind. Try wearing gloves that have a warm lining and are long enough to cover your wrists and keep the chill out.
If you do get wet, try and get into some dry clothes again as soon as possible.
Your body uses up energy to keep warm, so eat regularly with at least one hot meal a day and have plenty of hot drinks. Now is the time to make sure you are eating a balanced diet to keep your body well nourished and help your immune system remain in tip-top condition.
Perhaps you’re back on terra firma after a spell offshore. You want to get home. So remember to take appropriate precautions if travelling by car too.
Here’s a reminder of some useful things to keep in your car when travelling during the snowy weather, whether it’s to and from offshore assignments or the office, or leisure-related.
Make sure you have warm clothes with you in case you have to leave your vehicle: a winter coat, hat, gloves and sensible boots.
A warm blanket can be used to keep yourself warm.
Some snack food such as chocolate or biscuits as well as a drink provide energy and sustenance.
A shovel can help dig out your car from snow.
A fully-charged mobile phone is vital to summon help.
Some sacking or an old rug that you can slip under your tyres also work well if your car does get stuck.
Remember to take your time and be cautious: when driving in snowy conditions you’ll get nowhere in a hurry.
When we are in the grip of icy, cold temperatures our bodies work hard to try and maintain temperature and we can help ourselves by eating sensibly, wearing appropriate clothes and keeping active.
Donald MacKenzie is MD – remote medical services, at occupational health specialist Abermed
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