ActiveOutdoorsHow not to get frostbite on your penis (or anywhere else)Frostbite is far from funny - here’s how to protect your extremities during winter adventuresWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveOutdoorsHow not to get frostbite on your penis (or anywhere else)Frostbite is far from funny - here’s how to protect your extremities during winter adventuresWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Frostbite is far from funny - here’s how to protect your extremities during winter adventures
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: getty)
(Image credit: getty)
A man’s frostbitten hand, also showing symptoms of Reynaud’s syndrome(Image credit: Getty)
A man’s frostbitten hand, also showing symptoms of Reynaud’s syndrome
A man’s frostbitten hand, also showing symptoms of Reynaud’s syndrome
(Image credit: Getty)
What is frostbite?
Frostbite is the name for damage caused to human skin and tissue when it is exposed to freezing conditions. Alarmingly, temperatures don’t need to be especially extreme for this to start happening, it it can begin at just a half a degree below zero. So, when the mercury dips to -0.5°C (31°F), it’s worth thinking about preventative measures.
Why does it happen? Well, as a natural reaction to dropping temperatures your body will direct more blood to your vital organs, which could potentially save your life if conditions continue to deteriorate. But this is done at the cost of restricted blood flow to extremities, such as your fingers, toes, nose, ears, lips and, yes, penis, if you have one.
(Image credit: Getty)
(Image credit: Getty)
What to do if you think you’re getting frostbite
(Image credit: Getty)
(Image credit: Getty)
Will my frostbitten fingers/nose/penis fall off?
However, as more blood is directed away from them, the people’s extremities get increasingly cold and eventually fluid in the skin tissue freezes into ice crystals. In the most severe cases, the areas become starved of oxygen and the tissue blackens and dies. Once dead, tissue will need to be removed.
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Most people will have seen nasty images of mountaineers and polar explorers with blackened fingers and noses, and unfortunately this often ends in life-changing surgery. The adventurer Ranulph Fiennes famouslyamputated his own fingertipswith a saw after falling into the sea during an Arctic expedition and developing frostbite in 2000.
(Image credit: Getty)
(Image credit: Getty)
How to prevent frostbite
Like most winter advice, it all starts with good layering. If you thermally protect your vital organs with thebest baselayeryou can get, and then build on that with really warm midlayer, such as athick fleeceorpuffer jacket, then your body is less likely to divert blood away from your extremities in the first place.
Protecting your organs is important, but don’t neglect your bottom half when choosing baselayers - don’t be a numbnuts or end up suffering like Harry, go for some long-legged thermal underwear, and choose good quality winterwalking trousersto go over the top of them.
Materials arereallyimportant in extreme conditions. Never wear cotton garments into a cold environment - when it gets wet, cotton offers no thermal protection whatsoever - quite the opposite in fact, and it’s known as a killer fabric to mountaineers and polar people. Instead, for baselayers go for synthetic poly materials or merino wool, or - best of all - a mix of the two. Fleece is an excellent insulator, and down or synthetic fill in a puffer does a great job of keeping you warm.
(Image credit: getty)
(Image credit: getty)
Getting wet in cold conditions (à la Ranulph Fiennes) is a surefire way to end up in strife, so aside from avoiding falling into freezing waterways, make sure you’re wearing (or at least carrying) the bestwaterproof jacketyou can afford, plus waterproof overtrousers. Your shell is just as important as your base – layering only works when done properly.
Wind chill can bring temperatures down scarily fast, and waterproof jackets and trousers will help protect you against killer breezes, but also make sure you have face, neck and head protection, in the form of abeanie and Buff-style scarf.
(Image credit: getty)
(Image credit: getty)
And, of course, you need to keep your fingers and toes warm. Always take thewarmest glovesyou can get your hands on (in). Wear thick winterwalking socks, and the best waterproofhiking bootsyou can find.
Most importantly, keep an eye on each other out there in the hills and mountains during winter. Look out for signs of discomfort (especially complaints about pins-and-needles and loss of feeling in extremities) and hypothermia (confusion and tiredness) in your adventure amigos, because these often go hand-in-hand with the onset of frostbite. Turn around or seek shelter and warmth before the situation becomes serious. Wherever it hits you, frostbite is no-one’s friend.
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