Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Treating trench feet
• Part 2 of 2: Preventing trench feet
• Tips

You get trench feet if your feet are exposed to cold and dirty water for a long time - several hours or days. The condition took on a name during World War I when thousands of soldiers suffered these painful complaints while fighting in the trenches. The condition is characterized by swelling of the feet, numbness, pain and eventual death of tissue and gangrene, which is life-threatening. Trench feet are still found in modern war zones, disaster areas and at outdoor events where there is a lot of rain and the terrain is flooded. Treating and preventing the condition is quite easy.

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Part 1 of 2: Treating trench feet

1. Check your feet for symptoms. You will suffer from trench feet if you have wet feet for a long time, for example because your shoes and socks are wet or because you have been standing in water or mud for a long time. If you notice trench foot symptoms, get medical attention as soon as possible. The condition has the following symptoms, among others:
   • Tingling and itchy feet
   • Painful feet
   • Swollen feet
   • Cold, blotchy skin
   • Numb, heavy and stinging sensation in the feet
   • Redness and warmth
   • Dry skin
   • Blisters followed by tissue death (later stage)
2. Wash and dry your feet regularly. Even though the condition was named over a hundred years ago and appears to be a thing of the past, it can still occur in people who spend many hours in cold and wet conditions. One of the best ways to avoid trench feet is to keep your feet clean and dry. If you have to stand in water for several hours at a time, wash and dry your feet as often as possible. If necessary, put on dry socks.
   • Trench feet develop because the blood vessels in the feet contract in an effort to keep the rest of the body warm. As a result, the skin tissue receives less oxygen and nutrients.
   • If the skin tissue in the feet doesn't get enough oxygen and nutrients, it will swell and eventually die. Bacteria in the water can also cause infections if you have cuts and scrapes on your feet.
   • If you have cuts on your feet, apply some antibacterial ointment or an alcohol-based disinfectant after drying your feet. However, do this before putting your shoes or boots back on.
3. Warm up your feet. If you've been standing in cold water for hours on end, it's important not only to dry your feet, but to warm them up gradually. The heat will expand the blood vessels and improve blood circulation in your feet. This slows down the progression of the condition. Put warm compresses on your feet or soak your feet in warm water for about 5-10 minutes. Avoid the temptation to use hot water as it can burn your feet and make the condition worse.
   • If you are taking a warm foot bath, add a little potassium permanganate solution (available at a pharmacy) to the water. This can help draw moisture from the swollen tissue.
   • Trench feet look a bit like frozen feet, although the water doesn't have to be ice cold to get the condition. It can be caused by water with a temperature of up to about 15 ° C, and can even form indoors.
   • You can develop trench feet if you expose your feet to water for less than a day (as little as 12 hours).
4. Take off your socks when you go to sleep and rest. Once you've warmed your feet, it's important to take your socks off first while resting and sleeping in your bed. This may not seem logical if you have cold feet, but wearing tight-fitting socks can decrease circulation and make the condition worse. After a few days of recovery, you can wear wide socks made of breathable material such as cotton.
   • Instead of wearing socks, keep your feet warm while sleeping by covering them with a wool blanket.
   • Do not put your feet up when you are sitting on the couch, because you have to make sure that the blood flows to your lower legs and feet.
   • Place an extra blanket on the foot of your bed to keep your feet warm while sleeping. Do not overlap your ankles, as this can slow blood flow to your feet.
5. Consider using over-the-counter medications. Trench feet are characterized by swollen skin tissue and pain that can become quite severe. The toes, heels, and even your entire feet can be affected, depending on which parts of your feet are wet and how long they are. Therefore, take medicines that can relieve pain and swelling, such as anti-inflammatory drugs. Ibuprofen (including Advil) and Naproxen (Aleve) are well-known over-the-counter painkillers that work well.
   • Anti-inflammatories work best and are safest when used for a short time, or less than a few weeks.
   • If you have trench feet, it can take several weeks to several months for your feet to fully heal, depending on how severe the condition is and how healthy you are.
6. Treat your feet quickly if you notice any signs of infection. The main symptoms of trench foot (pain, swelling, blisters, and discoloration) are usually not caused by an infection. However, standing in water contaminated with poo bacteria certainly increases the risk of infection, especially if you have cuts and scrapes on your feet. Other signs of infection to watch out for include bloody pus, red and / or white streaks on your feet, a foul odor, and a mild fever.
   • If you get blisters from trench feet, the chances of infection are considerably higher.
   • If you're at risk for trench feet, apply an antibiotic cream or sanitizing lotion to all cuts and scrapes on your feet as soon as possible.
   • Your doctor may give you antibiotics to prevent infection or even give you a tetanus shot if your last shot was a long time ago.
7. Go to the emergency room if your feet turn dark blue, green, or black. A green-black discoloration of the skin indicates that the tissue is dying because it has been deprived of oxygen and nutrients for too long. Dying skin tissue (also called necrosis) can quickly lead to gangrene, a condition that requires urgent treatment with antibiotics and possibly surgery.
   • In addition to dark discoloration, other symptoms of gangrene include swelling, severe pain followed by loss of sensation, loosening of the skin, foul-smelling pus, and deformed toes.
   • In severe cases of trench foot involving gangrene, it is usually necessary to amputate the feet and lower legs.

Part 2 of 2: Preventing trench feet

1. Avoid standing in cold or cool water for long periods of time. Most people prefer not to stand in cold water for long periods of time, although some jobs and hobbies (fly fishing and attending outdoor concerts) are more likely to have trench feet. Keep an eye on the time and remember that in some circumstances, trench foot can form within 12 hours. Look for dry soil within that time, if possible.
   • Take a break every few hours if you have to stand in water for work. This is especially important if you are a rescuer, rescuer, or in the military.
   • Standing in hot and dirty water for several hours also presents problems and causes a different type of trench foot. So it's important to keep your feet dry no matter what the temperature.
2. Keep your socks clean and dry. If you have to spend a long time in wet or damp conditions for work or due to a certain situation, it is important to check your socks regularly to see if they are also damp or wet. If they are damp or wet, put on clean, dry socks to prevent or minimize the chance of getting trench feet. If you are at work or have to walk or stand in wet conditions, bring some extra socks to be on the safe side.
   • In wet conditions, use sock liners made of polypropylene. These are specially made to keep moisture away from your feet.
   • Socks made of natural fibers such as cotton and wool help prevent trench feet better than synthetic materials.
3. Wear well-fitting waterproof shoes. In addition to wearing dry socks, make the effort to put on the right shoes if you think you will have to spend time in damp or wet conditions. Ideally, you wear waterproof boots above the ankle. Whatever you choose, make sure your shoes fit you well and that they are not too loose or too tight around your feet. Stick to shoes or boots made of treated leather and don't choose ones made of synthetic materials like rubber and vinyl. Leather is more expensive, but water-resistant and breathable.
   • Depending on the situation, it may be a good idea to put on dry shoes a few times a day and let the wet shoes dry overnight.
   • Rubber boots are very suitable if you have to stand in the water for a few hours (for example if you go fly fishing). However, after a few hours you can get trench feet through, especially if the rubber doesn't have an insulating liner.
4. Apply petroleum jelly or talcum powder to your feet. An old trick used during World War I to prevent trench feet was to smear a lot of whale oil on the feet to create a water-resistant layer and protect the feet from the cold. Today it is more practical to put some petroleum jelly on your feet, which has the same effects and useful benefits.
   • Another method of keeping your feet dry is to sprinkle some talcum powder on top of it, which absorbs the moisture instead of repelling it.
   • Talcum powder is especially recommended for people who sweat more. Excessive sweating can also be controlled by applying desiccants such as aluminum chloride.

Tips

• Trench feet are mainly found in construction workers, security guards, rescue workers, hikers, campers, people who practice extreme sports and people who attend outdoor festivals.
• People with poor diets and sleeping habits seem to be more likely to develop trench feet.
• Because nicotine from cigarettes (tobacco) slows down blood circulation, it helps to quit smoking while you heal from the condition.