Protect Yourself From Frostbite This Freezing Winter Season

The winter of 2011 has been particularly harsh to many parts of the United States -- and we’re only two months into the year.

With freezing temperatures and lots of snow, winter can be especially hazardous to human health due to frostbite and frostnip -- some of the more common hazards people are likely to encounter.

Frostbite and frostnip occur when the human body is exposed to extremely low temperatures for a period of time without the proper clothing for the conditions.

Extreme cold causes the blood vessels of the body to begin to narrow and constrict, reducing blood flow to the extremities, such as ears, the nose, hands and feet.

“The two conditions are natural survival responses the body makes in order to keep your vital organs from becoming damaged by the cold,” said emergency medicine physician Dr. Melanie Cerinich of Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill.

According to Cerinich, the body shifts warm blood from its extremities to its center where the organs most vital to survival are.  And since the extremities -- our fingers and hands, toes and feet, ears, nose, and more -- receive less warm blood, they become more vulnerable to cold.

Frostnip

Frostnip, something many people may not have ever heard of, is the precursor to frostbite and is far less serious. Still, it’s not something to be taken lightly.

Frostnip commonly affects the fingers, face, ears, cheeks, toes and other areas of the body over-exposed to the cold.  People with frostnip will notice that the skin of the affected area is stiff, numb and white in color but the tissue underneath will still be warm and soft.

“Treatment for frostnip is as easy as warming the affected area by rubbing, moving and covering it up with extra layers of clothing,” said Cerinich. “You can also dip the frost-nipped area in warm -- never hot -- water until normal sensation returns.

Frostbite is the more serious form of frostnip. It occurs when parts of the body actually freeze.

Mild frostbite is characterized by numbness in the frostbitten area. The skin may appear white or gray. Also, there may be some blistering of the skin.

“Treatment for mild frostbite isn’t too dissimilar to treatment for frostnip.” Cerinich said. “First, get out of the cold and warm the affected area and then cover it with extra layers of clothing. Dipping the affected area in warm water until normal sensation returns also can be done.”

Severe frostbite, however, is not so easy to treat. In severe cases, the tissue underneath the skin can be frozen to the bone.

Severe frostbite can not only affect fingers, the face, ears, cheeks and toes but even entire arms and legs.

Frostbitten skin will be hard, numb, and appear pale, white or gray. The condition can lead to gangrene, amputation and even death.

Cerinich said rubbing or applying snow to the affected area will not help; it‘ll only increase injury to the skin.

“The best thing to do is to get out of the cold as fast as possible and wrap the frostbitten area immediately in some warm clothing or warm it with your body. Then seek immediate medical attention,” said Cerinich.

Of course, prevention is much easier and less painful than treatment.

Cerinich recommends limiting your exposure to extreme cold as well as wearing dry, layered clothing, a hat and mittens, which are warmer than gloves. These items are the best ways to avoid frostnip, frostbite and other winter-related illnesses.