Ski Course
Managing cold
Like every sport activity, skiing is a real pleasure only if you feel good and comfortable on the slope. However, if some parts of your body are cold, you will not be able to enjoy skiing and the panoramic views around in the way you should. Thus, a necessary pre-condition is to preserve your body from the cold and keep it warm. For this purpose you need to follow some useful guidelines.
Be aware of the fact that even sunny, the weather can change rapidly in the mountain. When the altitude is increasing, the air is getting colder. Wind also becomes stronger and threatens taking away your heat. You can stop the wind and cold by wearing the appropriate ski outfit. Dressing in layers will preserve the heat of your body and it is important that you choose properly even the underwear look for garments made of materials that absorb sweat, dry quickly and keep you warm.
In cold weather you have to move constantly in order to produce more heat. Ski actively and you will feel much warmer. You will not feel tired very soon if you do some exercises for warming up and making your muscles flexible before going to the piste. When you sit on the lift chair, you will feel the cold more sensitively, so stretch out your legs and move your toes for a better blood circulation.
The cold weather and wind affect also your face skin and lips as they are the mostly exposed parts of your body to the external conditions. Use sun-protection lotion which will protect you not only from the harmful sun rays but also from wind. Apply lip balsam to avoid cracking or swelling of your lips.
In order to be in a good shape all day long, your nutritious regime is of great importance. Refrain from drinking alcohol and smoking too many cigarettes, not only during the skiing day but also the day before; this will be an obstacle for the good blood circulation. Eat food rich on proteins and fats, which will give you energy but cannot preserve your heat for the whole day. It is better to eat some food that is rich in carbohydrates and products that contain sugar.
Preventing hypothermia
Hypothermia is the physical state that may occur in cold weather, most often when your body is exposed to wind and it feels more difficult to keep the heat. In this case the body temperature falls from the normal 37oC to 35oC or beneath. This is very dangerous, since these conditions prevent your organism from functioning well and it can be potentially fatal.
Which are the symptoms of hypothermia? Initially the person feels cold but he does not notice it in extent to make him complain. Then he may become more irritable in his behavior and even aggressive, after which he may feel drowsiness. You have to pay attention to these sudden reaction changes, especially in cases when you ski off piste or hike on trails distant from the populated areas. It is difficult to notice the signs of hypothermia in yourself, but you have to observe your friends. In the moment you suspect that particular person from your group shows the signs for hypothermia, stop immediately and find an isolated place. Check if his clothes are protected well from wind and snow; then if he is too cold, huddle together but keep in mind that it can take more time to warm him up. Try to find a hut or restaurant where he can get some heat and take hot drinks.
Do not let a person with hypothermia accept alcohol or cigarettes since both obstruct the normal blood circulation. Alcoholic drinks will pull the blood out to the limbs and cause a decrease in the core temperature. Smoking cigarettes has the opposite effect the extremities lack the intensive blood flow and the affected person may get frostbite.
The best way to prevent hypothermia is to wear clothes with anti-wind and waterproof insulation. Do not forget to wear a hat in cold weather, as 60% from the body heat is lost by the head. Dress well your children as they lose heat very rapidly.
Frostbite and frostnip
Frostbite and frostnip are some other consequences from the chilly weather. The mostly exposed extremities are your face (ears, cheeks and nose), fingers and toes. When their temperature falls below freezing point, they become chilled and light injuries may be caused, such as chapped lips and skin. The more extreme bad effects that may occur because of chill are frostbites or frostnips. If you prevent on time further freezing, this is frostnip, if for one reason or another you do not react rapidly, this may result in loss of tissue (frostbite).
Before getting a frostnip, there are different phases initially, you feel some parts of your body too cold, which causes you discomfort. Then this turns to a pain and finally these spots become numb. You can notice the affected area when it becomes to look pale or even white, later it goes to purple and in extreme cases becomes hard and frozen. At some cases this can result in blistering.
How is possible to prevent frostbite and frostnip? In fact, the methods are the same as with hypothermia: you should observe your friends, wear appropriate clothing and protecting extremities. In the very moment you notice any of the frostbite symptoms, stop immediately because if you continue skiing, this can exacerbate the affected area. Go to a safe place and rewarm the injured spot put your hands and feet inside warm clothes, such as trousers or jumpers and wrap your face in a scarf. Treat attentively the affected spot and avoid rubbing as the skin will be fragile and can be torn. In cases when the frostbite is on extreme level and the frozen area does not react to rewarming, you should go straight to a doctor who will take special care of the injury. As with hypothermia, remember that you will cause further complications by using alcohol or cigarettes.