Rob Johnson MIC

A qualified International Mountain Leader, Rob’s led groups all over the world via his company www.expeditionguide.com

Argh! I have had this, and it’s horrible! I have also had full frostbite – in summer in the Alps – and that’s horrible too! As always, prevention is better than cure. Most cold-weather injuries occur in our extremities, but there is a direct link between core body temperature and what happens to blood flow to our fingers, toes, nose, ears etc. The better insulated our core is, the less likely our extremities will suffer so – silly as it may sound – if your hands start to feel cold, put an extra warm layer on. Make sure you have a good hat on and, of course, wear some good gloves. I carry four pairs of gloves in winter as I want to make sure I can keep my fingers dry and warm all day long, whatever the weather. If you make one of those a pair of mittens, they are great for warming cold fingers. Frostnip is characterised by a waxy white appearance, numbness and sometimes tingling, and it can occur in the fingers, toes, ears, cheeks and your nose – any extremity that is exposed to the cold in fact. Keep an eye on yourself and the people with you, and if bits of you start to go white, warm them up! Treatment is as simple as removing any wet clothing and getting the area warm and dry. If left it can progress onto frostbite, which is much more serious.

What should I do if I suspect I’m getting frostnip in my fingers? Diane Potter, South Shields