Tips to Protect Your Hands and Fingers During Winter

Whether it’s an icy accident or frostbite due to exposure, winter can be dangerous, especially for your fingers and hands. 

Preventing FrostbiteFrostbite happens when the fingers or hands are exposed to freezing conditions for too long with inadequate gloves or mittens. The body responds to the cold by narrowing the blood vessels and decreasing flow to the extremities like the fingers. Fluid in the tissue can then freeze and ice crystals form causing severe tissue damage. Bad frostbite can destroy blood vessels in the fingers leading to gangrene and amputation.

Frostnip is a warning sign of impending frostbite, and symptoms include:

·       Red or pale skin

·       Stinging, burning

·       Mild numbness

In these early stages the damage is typically reversible. When the skin actually freezes, we call that frostbite, which is much more dangerous.

Symptoms of frostbite include:

·       Firm, hard, or waxy skin

·       Severe swelling

·       Blistering

·       Color changes such as white, red, blue, gray, black finger

·       Severe numbness

The best initial treatment for frostnip and frostbite is to limit further exposure to the cold. Protect the hand by removing any wet clothing and wrapping the fingers in a warm, dry covering. If you suspect frostbite, do not attempt to rewarm the digit with hot water or a direct heat source as this can cause more damage to the tissues. The rewarming process, typically done with warm water, can be quite painful as blood returns to the frozen tissue.

Snow Blower Injuries to the Hand

Another cause of injuries - snow blowers. Accidents often happen when users try to unclog the chute using fingers and hands. The result is often deep laceration or complete amputation of fingers.

Most people with snow blower injuries did turn the machine off prior to attempting to unclog the machine. What they didn’t realize, is that the blades can still spin even when the machine is off. If you need to unclog your snow blower, do the following:

·       Turn the machine off and wait for the blades to stop spinning.

·       Never unclog the machine with your hand!

·       Use a stick, broom handle, or similar tool to clear any snow.

Slipping on Ice

People can injure their wrists and hands from slips on the icy walkways. We have a tendency to break our fall with our hands in order to protect our head and face. This often results in broken wrists. Avoid ice completely whenever possible, but if you can’t, get boots that have good traction. If you must walk on ice, avoid carrying things like shopping bags to keep your hands free for balance.

Always use a handrail on stairs, never run, and most importantly concentrate on what you are doing. Wait to send that text, don’t scroll on social media, and really pay attention to your surroundings.

If you think you have a broken bone or continue to have pain or tenderness after a fall, you should be evaluated with an X-ray. Waiting too long can cause unnecessary pain, the bones can begin healing in poor alignment, and it can be much harder to treat when treatment is delayed.