Frostbite:
Frostbite happens when the extremities, such a the tip of the nose, the fingers of the cheeks, are exposed to the biteing cold. It can sneak up on any outdoor enthusiast when temperatures plummet. use the buddy system to check exposed skin regularly.
Once Frostbit happens, you know it. Initial numbness in the affected area quickly gives way to extreme pain, and the skin becomes white and hard. Thick mittens and insulated footwear that allow wiggle room are the best prevention for hands and feet. If frostbite does occur, gradually thaw the sore spot with body heat - yours or someone else's - or with prolonged immersion in warm, not hot, water.
Snow Blindness:
Sun reflected off snow or ice can cause snow blindness, which is basically a sunburn on the surface of the eye. Mountaineers and skiers at high altitudes are prime candidates for this painful condition. Historically, Inuit prevented snow blindness by cutting slits in small blocks of wood and strapping the over their eyes.
Today's wraparound sunglasses or dark coloured goggles do the trick nicely.
Grey is a good all purpose tint; cinnamon or amber works for hazy conditions, while vermillion or yellow is best in fog.
Sunburn:
Sun brightens a winter day, but snow makes that much appreciated sunshine a greater hazard to your health. Snow not only reflects sunlight but also magnifies the undesirable effects of ultraviolet rays, even on a foggy or an overcast day. To reduce the risk of skin cancer, the CCS recommends avoiding outdoor activities during the peak hours of 11-4pm whic is impossible for fun loving snowbunnies. At a minimum wear SPF30 sunscreen and do your best to cover your head, face, ears and neck.
Windchill:
The cold feels colder when the wind is blowing-just ask a snowmobiler. It's not a figment of your imagination but the effects of a triple whammy. As you move quickly in the outdoors, the wind blows away the thin, insulating layer of body heat (called the boundary layer) around you. Lose the boundary layer, and the body wastes energy trying to replace it. skin temperature drops, and the big chill sets in. But that's not all. Wind also speeds up the evaporation of moisture, sucking heat from the body.
The best way to avoid wind chill and its evil twin windburn is to wear windproof clothing and to protect all areas of skin.
Hypothermia:
Reportedly the number-one killer of winter recreationists, hypothermia occurs when the body's core temperature drops below normal (35.5C) as a result of exposure to cold. Fatigue, dehydration and improper clothing can lead to hypothermia, which has various stages from mild to severe.
Onset can be rapid, even faster when a person is wet. First comes shivering, followed by a loss of coordination, with symptoms becoming more pronounced as the body's temperature continues to fall. If the person can stop shivering, it is likely a mild case. A person more seriously affected exhibits slurred speech, stumbling and listlessness. At the most severe stage, when the body's core temperature drops below 30C, the person stops shivering and rigidly curls up on the ground. A hypothermia victim should be encouraged to drink hot liquids and to move around in a dry, sheltered environment to prevent the body temperature from dropping any further. Address the problem in its early stage, before draining energy reserves, by reducing your exposure to the cold.