By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Animals physically adapt to their environment. The average dog will, for instance, gain its ‘winter coat’ as the seasons turn, and then ‘shed’ as temperatures warm. Humans, however, though animals themselves, don’t typically exhibit such radical physical changes based upon season or environment. Our hair grows at a relatively constant rate regardless of when or where we happen to be at any given time; and if we need or desire a winter coat we must make or purchase one.
This means that we need to be more deliberate with how we interact with our environment. In most cases failing to prepare is more an inconvenience than an actual problem. Being ‘cold’ isn’t the same as freezing. When temperatures are low but above the freezing point, most of us can suffer through not being comfortably warm. But when temperatures dip below that freezing point there are precautions we all must take when being outdoors for an extended period of time. And at that point the temperature is a major factor in every activity.
Two major things to consider at low winter temperatures are wind chill and exertion based distress. Wind chill is often a more important factor than the actual temperature reading on the thermometer. And exertion based distress is something we all need to guard against because all too often it happens without warning, especially during activities such as clearing driveways, feeding animals, and cutting firewood.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), “Wind Chill is a term used to describe what the air temperature feels like to the human skin due to the combination of cold temperatures and winds blowing on exposed skin.” Exposed skin radiates heat away from the body as a natural cooling process; however, cold and quickly blowing wind accelerates that process and can actually drain body heat. If enough body heat is drained from exposed flesh the result can be frostbite. The National Weather Service provides a chart that shows the time required for temperature and windchill on exposed skin to result in frostbite.
“For example, a temperature of 0°F and a wind speed of 15 mph will produce a wind chill temperature of -19°F. Under these conditions, exposed skin can freeze in 30 minutes,” the NWS notes.
Exertion based distress is a danger whenever we are exposed to cold temperatures while performing strenuous activities for any appreciable amount of time without proper precautions. The most common culprit is shoveling snow covered driveways and walkways, though any strenuous outdoor activity can cause exertion based distress. The body is already somewhat compromised by using more resources to maintain body core temperature, and the activity can exacerbate this causing more loss of heat, while the person performing the activity might ‘feel’ warm.
Outdoor activities are particularly challenging to certain groups during the winter months. According to the American Heart Association, “The impact of snow removal is especially concerning for people who already have cardiovascular risks like a sedentary lifestyle or obesity, being a current or former smoker, having diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, as well as people who have had a heart attack or stroke. People with these characteristics and those who have had bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty simply should not be shoveling snow.”
These types of activities have been shown to increase blood pressure while also constricting the coronary arteries, which is a recipe for a cardiac event. Those who think they might be bypassing the effects and dangers by using mechanical means such as snow blowers should rethink those thoughts because the American Heart Association studies show that using snowblowers carry virtually the same risks as manually shoveling snow.
There are of course times when these outdoor activities cannot be avoided. But anyone, even healthy and relatively active individuals with no health issues should be aware of the dangers. Work slowly, take frequent breaks, and if using a shovel remember to push the snow rather than lift it.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
