Beware of the cold

Following a bit of a January thaw, bitter cold temperatures have settled in on us and will be possible for the next couple of months. And along with the cold comes the danger of frostbite.

Frostbite occurs when the skin and underlying blood vessels and tissue are frozen. Fingers, toes, earlobes and the tip of the nose often fall victim as the body pulls blood away from the extremeties in an effort to keep the vital organs warm.

The temperature need not be sub-Arctic for frostbite to be a danger — 32 degrees Farenheit is cold enough.

Windchill makes a difference, too. Though the air temperature may be in the 50s, if the windchill makes it feel like 30, frostbite can become a problem.

Exposed skin is vunerable. Cover up as much as possible when venturing out and apply moisturizer to any skin that can’t be covered.

Avoid alcohol and tobacco when outside for long periods of time. Alcohol impedes the body’s ability to regulate temperature and can make you ignore discomfort.

Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow to the extremities.

People with peripheral vascular disease or diabetes, as well as anyone taking beta-blocker medications, are more susceptible to frostbite.

Be careful when pumping gas not to spill any on your skin. Gasoline evaporates quickly, taking heat and moisture with it.

Watch children to make certain they don’t lose a mitten or hat while playing outside. For outdoor exercise, be sure to dress in layers. Try to make the bottom layer something waterproof that won’t get soaked with sweat.

Warning signs of frostbite include numbness and tingling or burning. The affected skin will turn red, then purple, then white. A frostbitten limb is often described as feeling wooden.

If frostbite appears to be present, get out of the cold. Check to make sure there are no symptoms of hypothermia (shivering, loss of coordination, slurred speech, body temperature of 95 degrees or lower) before treating frostbite. If symptoms of hypothermia are present, treat the hypothermia first (rewarm slowly and call a medical professional).

If there is a possiblity of the affected area becoming refrozen, do not thaw it. Leave it frozen until it can be thawed and then kept warm.

Do not rub the area. The friction caused by rubbing will cause further damage to the frozen tissue. The most effective means of thawing frozen skin is to immerse it in a warm bath of 104 to 105 degrees. If a warm bath isn’t available, hold the frozen area under an armpit or between the thighs to take advantage of body heat.

There will be pain as the tissue thaws; take acetaminophen, ibuprofin or aspirin.

Once the area is thawed, cover it with bandages and seek medical care.

Superficial frostbite that has frozen only the outer layer of skin will heal without permanent damage. More severe cases, in which the deeper tissues have frozen, require expert medical care. Extreme cases may require amputation.