Freezing weather can mean frostbite(冻疮)and hypothermia (低体温)unless a person is prepared.
Today we talk about how to stay warm,  dry and safe.
     Frostbite is damage that happens when skin is exposed to extreme cold for too long. It mainly
happens on the hands,  feet,  nose and ears.
     People with minor cases of frostbite that affect only the skin may not suffer and permanent damage.
But if deeper tissue is affected, a person is likely to feel pain every time the area gets cold.
     Hypothermia happens when the body cannot produce as much heat as it releases. The condition
comes on slowly. Signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shaking, very slow breathing and difficulty
thinking clearly. If not treated, hypothermia can be deadly.
     To avoid coldrelated injuries, here is a simple way to remember four basic steps to stay warm, Think
of COLD-C.O.L.D.
     The C stands for cover.Wear a hat and a scarf to keep heat from escaping through the head, neck
and ears.And wear mittens(连指手套)instead of gloves.In gloves, the fingers are separated, so the
hands may not stay as warm.
     The O stands for overexertion. Avoid activities that will make you sweaty. Wet clothes and cold
weather are a bad mix.
     The L stands for layers. Wearing loose, lightweight clothes, one layer on top of another, is better
than wearing a single heavy layer of clothing. Also, make sure outerwear is made of material that is
water resistant and tightly knit.
     The D stands for dry.In other words, stay as dry as possible. Pay attention to the places where
snow can enter, like the tops of boots, the necks of coats and the wrist areas of mittens.
     Hypothermia can be mild, moderate or severe. Mild hypothermia is something that most people
have experienced if they live in cold climates. You feel so cold that your body starts to shake-not very
much, but uncontrollably.
     The treatment for mild hypothermia starts with getting out of the cold and, if necessary, changing into
dry clothes.Drinking warm, nonalcoholic liquids and eating something sugary can stop the shivering.
     Taking a warm bath or sitting by a fire or doing some exercise can also help the body warm up.
These are all common sense treatments.
     But the treatment needs change when people enter the moderate or severe stages of hypothermia.
In that situation,  their body temperature drops below thirtyfive degrees Celsius. They lose the ability to
think clearly. Their muscles become stiff.They might bump into things or fall over objects.
     It is important to work fast to get people out of the cold.Hypothermia victims need medical help as
soon as possible. But it is equally important to move them slowly and gently.