MADISON, Wis. — With wind chills bringing temperatures around southern Wisconsin well into the negative 20s on Friday, health experts are warning area residents of an increased risk for frostbite.
Frostbite, as UW Health’s Dr. Jeff Pothof explained, sets in when moisture in your tissues starts to freeze. When that happens, jagged ice crystals can rub against and into the tissue itself, damaging it in the process. Depending on the severity of frostbite, symptoms can include sharp pain and numbness. In extreme cases, it could require amputation.
Early symptoms, usually referred to as frostnip, can set in as quickly when temperatures dip below 0 degrees. Whenever extremities like fingers, toes and ears start to feel slightly numb or tingly, that’s usually a sign it’s time to either put on more layers or move inside.
“That’s that first indication that your tissues are colder than they want to be,” Pothof said. Ignoring those early warning signs could be cause for concern, he added.
If that tingling sensation turns to full numbness and skin color starts to fade, that’s a sign you need to get inside quickly or risk further injury.
In situations where you might be venturing out for a quick walk — like taking your dog out or running a quick neighborhood errand — Pothof recommended dressing warmer than you normally would.
“The worrisome thing on days like today is [frostbite] happens much faster than folks expect it to happen, and you get yourself in trouble real quick if you don’t plan ahead if you need to be out in the weather today,” he said.
It’s important to be cautious when rewarming your fingers and toes, too. According to Pothof, the common wisdom of walking to get blood flowing and rubbing your hands together to create warmth doesn’t apply to frostbite. In fact, doing either can cause more damage by mashing the frozen ice crystals further into your tissues, causing worse injuries.
There are also risks with using heat to warm up quickly; because the body’s nerves go numb at a certain point, it’s hard to tell when hot water is too hot or if fingers are too close to an open flame. If either happens, burns can end up becoming another issue.
Bundling up with extra layers, Pothof said, is also essential if and when people decide to travel.
RELATED: Don’t travel Friday unless absolutely necessary, Wisconsin DOT says
Officials with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation said earlier this week that drivers should avoid hitting the roads unless absolutely necessary. If travel is essential, it’s important to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
“One of the things folks need to think about when they go outside during these bitterly cold times is really bundling up as if you thought you were going to be outside for a lot longer period of time,” Pothof said.
Many officials recommend keeping an emergency kit in your vehicle in case of slide-offs or crashes during wintery weather. Paired with the high winds and frigid temperatures expected through the weekend, emergency responders face challenges with vehicle rescues, and that means more time in the bitter cold for stranded drivers.
“The temperature’s going to drop very quickly, maybe before someone can get to you to help you out of that situation,” Pothof said. “It’s not just surviving the car accident or the disabled car, it’s also surviving the cold that’s going to come after that when temperatures are just so frigid.”
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