UPPER MICHIGAN (WLUC) – As temperatures reach well below zero degrees this week, your risk of hypothermia and frostbite increase when you leave the house. Marquette Urgent Care Physician Cara Crawford-Bartle says when leaving the house, hats, gloves, and even snowpants are your best friend.
Crawford-Bartle says when temperatures reach exceptionally low levels, frostbite may occur within minutes. If you have wet clothing on, hypothermia can settle even faster.
“Some signs of frostbite include worsening pain in the affected area, and then eventually, it can go numb,” Crawford-Bartle said. “And then, as far as hypothermia goes, at the extreme end of the spectrum, you can develop altered mental states.”
Those altered mental states can include confusion, slurred speech, and drowsiness.
Aspirus Houghton Clinic Physician Assistant Bella Nutini recommends running a frostbite affected area under warm water.
“You don’t wanna do any rapid reheating with like heating pads, or stove top fire, burning hot water, anything like that,” she said.
Nutini says if you do have to go outside for long periods of time, to warm up indoors for an equal amount of time. She also says you should pack an emergency kit, as well as extra gloves and blankets, when travelling by car in case of an emergency.
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