By Ethan Pham
Winter is the most dangerous time of the year for individuals without a shelter. From chilblains to trench foot, what starts as a slight annoyance turns into life-threatening hypothermia and frostbite. It is important to understand how to prevent and treat the variety of problems that the cold in winter can cause.
One of the most deadly conditions from which unhoused people suffer from is hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when someone has a body temperature below 95°F and expends body heat faster than they can generate it. The symptoms of hypothermia are shivering, pale skin, slurred speech, and slowed heart rates. In order to avoid it, one needs to try to put on layers of clothing. In addition, they need to remove wet clothes and replace them with dry ones as soon as possible.
Another threatening condition for people without a shelter is frostbite. Exposure to extreme cold can cause frostbite, which happens when one’s skin or tissues freeze. Symptoms of frostbite are numbness, discoloration of the skin, and pain. If gone untreated, one may have to undergo amputation. Ways to prevent frostbite are staying active to generate body heat and wearing many layers of clothing.
Some other, less deadly, but still concerning, cold-weather worries are chilblains and trench foot. Chilblains are inflamed patches that form on the skin after prolonged exposure to cold—not freezing—temperatures. This is a cause for concern since they can form in temperatures as warm as 60°F. While not likely to cause permanent damage, untreated chilblains may lead to infection. The primary way to avoid chilblains is wearing socks and gloves to keep one’s fingers and feet warm.
Another non-fatal problem that occurs even when the temperature is above freezing is trench foot. Trench foot occurs when feet are damp for extended periods of time. In addition to this, it sets in within ten hours, so one must immediately treat their feet. The initial symptoms are tingling and numbness in the feet. In severe cases, amputation is required. A way to prevent this is to change out wet socks and shoes as soon as possible.
One should not stay outside too long if the temperature is life-threatening and dangerously cold. At 32°F. and below, one can get frostbite in 30 minutes or less. If one must seek shelter, consider public places that may offer shelter like libraries and warming centers. Awareness and preparation are vital in making living in subzero temperatures easier. Here is a list of warming centers in Linn County: https://www.linncountyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/25130/Warming-Centers-1-17-2025.
Works Cited
● https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frostbite/symptoms-causes/syc-20372656 ● https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chilblains/symptoms-causes/syc-20351097
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