Trenchfoot: A Cold-Stress Injury That Doesn't Require Freezing Temperatures

Trenchfoot is a form of cold stress, but interestingly, this injury can occur in temperatures as high as 60 degrees F.  Any prolonged exposure to wet and/or cold conditions can cause this non-freezing injury since wet feet lose heat 25 times faster than dry feet.  The first line of defense is to have and wear proper boots for weather conditions. But if you feel you, or a co-worker is at risk, here are some things to look for:

Symptoms:

• Reddening skin
• Numbness
• Pain and/or tingling
• Leg cramps
• Swelling
• Blisters

What to do:

• Seek medical advice as soon as possible
• In the case of an emergency, call 911 immediately
• Remove wet boots/shoes and wet socks
• Gently dry the feet using a patting motion
• Do not rub the feet as this can further the injury
• Keep feet elevated and avoid walking