how could trench foot be prevented

I had been hiking the White Mountains in New Hampshire for a few years before my thru-hike and I knew it all. Just because your feet are white and wrinkly doesnt mean you have trench foot. ", What Is Trench Foot? Trench Foot Guide! -How to Keep Your Feet Dry? - Riders Trail Prevent trench foot by wearing moisture-wicking socks and footwear that fits properly. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. A greenish black discoloration of the skin means that tissue is dying. If it's determined that you have a mild case of trench foot, you can treat it at home by cleaning and drying your feet as often as you can, including replacing socks and other footwear that gets wet. 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It's important to note that excessively sweaty feet, also called hyperhidrosis, can also cause this condition. The only thumb rule for the best hiking experience is to avoid hundred percent cotton socks, especially during the winter seasons and also while you trek in cold and wet areas. Slowing down your pace, taking extra breaks and giving your feet time to dry should help. Trench foot is one of three subclasses of immersion foot and is considered a non-freezing cold injury (NFCI). Symptoms of trench foot include a tingling and/or itching sensation, pain, swelling, cold and blotchy skin, numbness, and a prickly or heavy feeling in the foot. If youre darker skinned, the discoloration wont be as noticeable. At that time, many soldiers lost their limbs and even died because of the condition. "I have really bad trench foot and I needed to know what to do. Although you may be able to treat the immediate effects of trench foot with the following, you still need individualized medical care: Remove the feet from the cold, wet environment that caused the condition. Now I want to share what Ive learned with you. 1. Treatment involves the following steps: Within a few hours after warming your feet, they may become red, dry, tender, and painful. Learn more about this condition. It often happens when you have to wear wet socks and shoes or boots for days at a time. Other complications can include sepsis and death. The condition was first seen in World War 2 by soldiers that were stuck in wet trenches(hence the name). But in other cases, they could be a symptom of an underlying condition. You get trench foot by standing in wet, cold conditions for an extended period of time. At this point you wont be able to reverse the symptoms on the trail. Treatment for trench foot is similar to the treatment for frostbite. Trench foot: Symptoms, causes, treatment - Medical News Today Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); How To Score a Walk-Up Backpacking Permit Anywhere, Backpacker Radio #206 | Briana DeSanctis on Hiking the 6,800 Mile American Discovery Trail, Jack Wolfskin Prelight Alpha Jacket Review, A Woman Was Bitten by a Bear on the AT Last Month. Today, trench foot is treated with relatively straightforward methods. A review of trench foot: a disease of the past in the present Rubber boots and gators are great for spending a few hours standing in the water (for fly fishing, for example), but can help trigger trench foot after many hours, especially if the rubber doesn't have an insulating inner lining. All of that was true. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/30/2022. If this happens, you can do the following to help prevent trench foot: Here are some questions to ask your doctor if you have trench foot: This page was last updated on October 1st, 2015. Non-freezing cold injury: immersion foot. Learn the Signs, apply heat packs to the affected area for up to five minutes. I didnt actually weigh my pack, mostly out of fear, but knowing that after sending home quite a bit I decided to weigh my pack around Hot Springs, NC. Ignoring wet feet will eventually lead to immersion foot aka trench foot. What Is Trench Foot, and How Can It Be Prevented? This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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