In the mountains we are not always accompanied by sunshine and cloudless skies. Sometimes cold temperatures, wind and humidity can hit us. Especially these three components...
In the mountains we are not always accompanied by sunshine and cloudless skies. Sometimes cold temperatures, wind and humidity can hit us. Especially these three components taken together can hurt us severely.
Merely the presence of wind can lower the temperature on the skin surface considerably and frost bites can occur very quickly.
| Temperature at calm | 10 km/h |
20 km/h |
30 km/h |
40 km/h |
50 km/h |
60 km/h |
70 km/h |
| + 14 °C | 12 °C | 8 °C | 6 °C | 5 °C | |||
| + 12 °C | 10 °C | 6 °C | 3 °C | 2 °C | |||
| + 10 °C | 8 °C | 3 °C | 1 °C | -1 °C | |||
| + 8 °C | 5 °C | 1 °C | -2 °C | -4 °C | |||
| + 6 °C | 3 °C | -2 °C | -5 °C | -7 °C | -8 °C | -9 °C | -10 °C |
| + 4 °C | 1 °C | -5 °C | -8 °C | -10 °C | -12 °C | -12 °C | -13 °C |
| + 2 °C | -1 °C | -7 °C | -11 °C | -13 °C | -15 °C | -16 °C | -16 °C |
| 0 °C | -4 °C | -10 °C | -14 °C | -16 °C | -18 °C | -19 °C | -20 °C |
| - 2 °C | -6 °C | -12 °C | -16 °C | -19 °C | -21 °C | -22 °C | -23 °C |
| - 4 °C | -8 °C | -15 °C | -19 °C | -22 °C | -24 °C | -25 °C | -26 °C |
| - 6 °C | -10 °C | -17 °C | -22 °C | -25 °C | -27 °C | -28 °C | -29 °C |
| - 8 °C | -12 °C | -20 °C | -25 °C | -28 °C | -30 °C | -31 °C | -32 °C |
| - 10 °C | -15 °C | -23 °C | -28 °C | -31 °C | -33 °C | -35 °C | -35 °C |
| - 12 °C | -17 °C | -25 °C | -30 °C | -34 °C | -36 °C | -38 °C | -39 °C |
| - 14 °C | -19 °C | -28 °C | -33 °C | -37 °C | -39 °C | -41 °C | -42 °C |
Frost bites can be classified into three kinds:
| Degree of frostbite | Symptoms | Prognosis |
| I | Irritation of the affected skin, sensual dysfunction | Good |
| II | Appearance of a blister on the affected region, skin hurts | Good if treated appropriately |
| III | Affected skin region is dark or black and insensible | Bad, often loss of the body part or persistant defect after healing |
Thus the prophylaxis of cold injuries is an important aspect when you choose your clothing. In bad weather you should only exercise in high quality, wind-resistent and moisture-repellent garments. Appropiate head-wear is also a must. When exercising and sweating you should always have a dry shirt with you and make sure you drink enough!
However, some spots in the face will remain uncovered - everyone has to see and breath somehow. These uncovered spots can be protected effectively with high quality fat unguents, such as "Neriderm fat unguent", "Melkerfat", "Linola Fat unguent" or "Lasepton cold and wind protection unguent"- all available in our pharmacy.
In case of local frost bites of the first or second degree (fingers, toes, cheek, ears) the following measures are recommended:
- Painkiller (Acetylsalicylic acid, e.g. Aspirin®, very suitable)
- Dry clothes. Change your socks and gloves.
- Protection from wind and moisture
- No rubbing or massaging of the affected body region
- Hot drinks
- If possible warm water bath of the affected spot. Ususally quite painful.
- In protected surroundings such as a hut, alcohol is permitted, but never outdoors!