The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gives advice on how to prevent hypothermia and frostbite as the United States continues to experience cold and freezing temperatures.
What Is Frostbite?
Frostbite is an injury induced by cold temperatures. It causes a loss of sensation and color in the affected regions, often the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Frostbite can cause irreversible tissue damage, and severe instances might result in amputation (removing the affected body part).
Who Is Susceptible?
- Those with inadequate blood flow
- Those who are unprepared for severely frigid weather
Indicators:
- A white or yellowish-gray skin area
- Skin with an abnormally hard or waxy texture
- Numbness
What To Do?
- Because the frostbitten regions of a person’s body are numb, they may not realize they have frostbite until someone else points it out. Frostbite should be evaluated by a medical professional.
- Get the individual into a warm environment as quickly as feasible.
- If possible, avoid walking on feet or toes that have frostbite, as this can exacerbate the injury.
- Do not massage the frostbitten region with snow or any other substance. This can cause additional harm.
- Place the frostbitten regions in warm, not hot, water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body).
- If warm water is unavailable, use body heat to warm the afflicted region. For instance, the heat from an armpit can be used to warm frostbitten fingertips.
- Do not warm yourself with a heating pad, heat lamp, stove, fireplace, or radiator. The affected parts are numb and susceptible to burning.
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Deadly Winter Storm in US
As a severe Arctic winter storm sweeps through the US and Canada, about 1.5 million people are without power in many states. Extending from coast to coast and as far south as the US-Mexico border, winter weather warnings have been issued for large portions of both nations.
The storm has brought severe gusts and low temperatures that can lead to frostbite in a short amount of time. At least six deaths have been attributed to storms in the United States. As the storm increases, hundreds of flights have been canceled at major airports.
According to the US National Weather Service, more than 200 million individuals, or nearly sixty percent of the US population, are under some type of winter weather alert.
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