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Dear Daniel:
It would sure be terrific if your toes could stay toasty all the time. But this doesn't happen in
frosty weather because your body has bigger things to worry about--like your internal organs! You
can get the real "inside" story by learning what happens when it's not cold outside. On a
comfortable day, blood carries heat from the center of your body out to your skin's surface. Heat
from your warm skin then escapes through the air. And the quickest way for heat to leave your body
is through all those funny parts that stick out, like your fingers, toes, and ears. But when it's
fr-r-r-r-reezing outside, it's a good idea to prevent heat from escaping. So your body sends less
blood to your fingers, toes, and ears. That way, it traps heat for the rest of itself and keeps
your vital organs cozy.
Now this doesn't mean you should just forget your fingers, toes, and ears! After all, if they
remain without blood for too long, they can get frostbitten! That means your blood-starved tissues
will get so cold that they'll freeze and die. So your body does its best to keep you warm with some
emergency procedures, like shivering and breaking down food. You can easily help out even more by
dressing warmly.
Signed,
Wendell
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