Frostbite: First aid

When exposed to very cold temperatures, skin and underlying tissues may freeze, resulting in frostbite. The areas most likely to be affected by frostbite are your hands, feet, nose and ears.

You can identify frostbite by the hard, pale and cold quality of skin that has been exposed to the cold. As the area thaws, the flesh becomes red and painful.

If your fingers, ears or other areas suffer frostbite:

• Get out of the cold.
• Warm your hands by tucking them under your arms. If your nose, ears or face is frostbitten, warm the area by covering it with dry, gloved hands.
• Don't rub the affected area. Never rub snow on frostbitten skin.
• If there's any chance of refreezing, don't thaw out the affected areas. If they're already thawed out, wrap them up so they don't refreeze.
• Get emergency medical help if numbness remains during warming. If you can't get help immediately, warm severely frostbitten hands or feet in warm — not hot — water. You can warm other frostbitten areas, such as your nose, cheeks or ears, by covering them with your warm hands or by applying warm cloths.

1. Stay healthy

It's impossible to know how a flu pandemic might take shape, but being in good health can help protect you. A healthy body means a strong immune system that fights off infection. Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting adequate sleep are all things you can do to maintain good health.

3. Wash your hands frequently

Use soap and water or, when traveling or when water is scarce, an alcohol-based (60 percent to 95 percent) hand sanitizer to help prevent the spread of infection. It's especially important to wash your hands after likely exposure, and before handling food or touching your nose, mouth or eyelids. When you wash, use warm water and soap and scrub for at least 15 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are actually better than soap and water at killing bacteria and viruses. Even with washing, avoid touching your mouth or eyes with your fingers.

5. Consider wearing a mask

A respiratory mask may prevent you from inhaling airborne particles from an infected person's coughs or sneezes. The snug-fitting N95 face mask is the gold standard for infection protection.

7. Keep your home and work areas clean

Use disinfecting wipes or cleanser to clean such common surfaces as door handles, phones, computer keyboards, countertops and tools.

9. Avoid contact with birds and bird-related material in areas where bird flu is occurring

Whether feeding ducks at a park or walking through an open-air market, touching or being close to birds or bird droppings can lead to bird flu transmission if birds in that area are infected.