GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – With wind chills as low as minus-30 this weekend, the weather locally has turned from bitterly cold to potentially dangerous.
Health officials are reminding the public how quickly frostbite could develop in conditions such as this.
Amanda Woulf with Bellin Health Bellevue Family Practice says even if you don’t plan on being outside, preparing for the worst could save lives.
“Keeping extra layers in your vehicle,” she explains. “Things like mittens, hats, blankets, just in case something would happen where you would be stranded.”
And extra layers shouldn’t just be left in the car, but also placed on your body.
“It’s always best to overdress, because you can always remove layers,” says Woulf. “If you can, if at all possible, avoid prolonged exposure to the cold.”
Health officials stress that frostbite isn’t simply temporarily discomfort, but rather a real concern that could result in long-term damage.
“Frostbite can result in some dangerous tissue damage and can even, in severe cases, lead to nerve damage and worst case scenario loss of limb,” explains Woulf.
If you’re stuck outside in the cold for a while, it’s important to take proactive steps in order to prevent frostbite from settling in.
“When you come in you would want to get all of your wet clothing and any jewelry that you have on your extremities off,” she says. “You don’t want to necessarily rub the skin.”
One misconception is that placing the affected skin in hot water is the best treatment. Actually, that could become a danger itself.
“So it’s best to do just like a warm bath and not throw it on hot water right away,” she explains. “Because you can actually cause more harm.”
The potential harm stems from numb extremities that are unable to detect burning sensations.
“When your fingers are numb you’re going to have loss of sensation so you’re not going to know if it gets too warm,” says Woulf.
If you think you might have frostbite, Woulf says there are a few things to look for.
“If your color to your skin doesn’t come back to a pink color within fifteen minutes, or so, and you’re still feeling like it’s not getting better,” she says.
At that point, pursuing emergency medical attention would be necessary.
