Knowing when you are at danger and things you can do to help.
A lot of motorcyclist ride in the cold weather but when is it too cold to ride?
Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposures to very cold temperatures. When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced. Lengthy exposures will eventually use up your body’s stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature.
Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, because a person may not know that it’s happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.
While hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.
Victims of hypothermia are often:
1. Older adults with inadequate food, clothing, or heating
2. Babies sleeping in cold bedrooms
3. People who remain outdoors for long periods—the homeless, hikers, hunters, etc.
4. People who drink alcohol or use illicit drugs.
Common signs of hypothermia in adults is:
1. Shivering
2. Exhaustion or feeling very tired
3. Confusion
4. Fumbling hands
5. Memory loss
6. Slurred speech
7. Drowsiness
Hypothermia is a medical emergency. If your body temperature is below 95° F, get medical attention immediately! If you are not able to get medical attention try to warm up by:
1. Getting to a warm room or shelter.
2. Remove any wet clothing you are wearing.
3. Warm the center of your body—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if available. You can also use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets.
4. Warm drinks can help increase body temperature, but do not drink alcoholic beverages. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person.
5. After your body temperature has increased, keep dry and wrap your body, including your head and neck, in a warm blanket.
6. Get proper medical attention as soon as possible.
Frostbite: Frostbite is a type of injury caused by freezing. It leads to a loss of feeling and color in the areas it affects, usually extremities such as the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation (removing the affected body part).
You may have a greater chance of developing frostbite if you have poor blood circulation
and or not properly dressed for extremely cold temperatures.
If you notice redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin. Any of the following signs may point to frostbite:
1. A white or grayish-yellow skin area
2. Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
3. Numbness
Being prepared is your best defense against having to deal with extremely cold weather. If you're going to ride in cold weather be sure to take safety precautions. Doing so can reduce your risk of developing health problems related to cold weather.
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