Frostbite and Hypothermia in People and Pets (and First Aid)

Given the Arctic air outbreak this week, here is some information for you about Frostbite and Hypothermia. These can also be experienced in pets. See info below and stay warm! 

FROSTBITE OCCURS – Within 30 minutes during these Arctic Outbreak temperatures the Eastern and Central U.S. is currently experiencing.

  For example, A  temperature of 0°F and a wind speed of 15 mph creates a wind chill temperature of -19°F. Under these conditions frost bite can occur in just 30 minutes. ... Extremely cold temperature can also cause hypothermia, when the body's temperature dips below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

WHAT DOES FROSTBITE DO? You have frostbite when your body tissue freezes. The most susceptible parts of the body are fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose. Symptoms include a loss of feeling in the extremity and a white or pale appearance. Get medical attention immediately for frostbite. The area should be SLOWLY rewarmed using warm, not hot water.

WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA?

• Hypothermia occurs when body temperature falls below 95°F. Determine your temperature with a thermometer.
• Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and exhaustion.
• Get medical attention immediately. If you can't get help quickly, begin warming the body SLOWLY. Warm the body core first, NOT the extremities. Warming extremities first drives the cold blood to the heart and can cause the body temperature to drop further--which may lead to heart failure.
• If you are helping someone else with hypothermia, get the person into dry clothing and wrap in a warm blanket. Be sure to cover the head and neck.
• Do not give the person alcohol, drugs, coffee, or any HOT beverage or food. WARM broth and food is better.
• About 20% of cold related deaths occur in the home. Young children under the age of two and the elderly (those more than 65 years old), are most susceptible to hypothermia.
• Hypothermia can set in over a period of time. Keep the thermostat above 69°F, wear warm clothing, eat food for warmth, and drink plenty of water or fluids other than alcohol and caffeine to keep hydrated.
• Avoid alcohol because it will LOWER your body temperature.

Frostbite is a Serious Danger for White Men in Shorts in Winter

For the last couple of years, we've noticed ONLY white men wearing shorts in the winter time. As a meteorologist, I find
that incredibly DUMB. It's dumb and dangerous especially because of the Arctic outbreaks the U.S. has been experiencing (as a result of global warming causing temperature extremes), Frostbite can occur within 30 MINUTES on exposed skin. 
  You DON'T want Frostbite. You can lose limbs.   In this blog, we'll tell you what frostbite is, what it does and why you should NEVER wear shorts in winter..

Here's the thing about it, too: People of all other ethnicities are Smart enough Not to wear shorts in the winter time. It's just White men who do it.   We've noticed that it has been happening in the Baltimore / Washington area for the last 5 years or so and can't understand where it started. However, after a google search, it's happening all over the U.S.

DANGEROUS -   This is such a dangerous thing because of FROSTBITE.  On Sunday, January 14 it was 17 Degrees Fahrenheit with a Wind Chill of 5 degrees.     It was then we saw a White man in shorts walking through a parking lot.

 WHAT IS FROSTBITE?  Just like water turns to ice when the temperature drops, your fingers, hands, toes, feet - even your nose and ears -- can freeze. Being further away from your core, they are the first organs affected by decreased bloodflow in response to cold. How soon this happens depends on how cold and windy it is outside. It can happen faster than you may think. In severely frigid weather, frostbite can happen in just 5 minutes.

 Frost bite can occur in just 30 minutes
Early stage

• Skin turns a pale yellow or white



Don't be like this guy

• It may itch, sting, burn, or feel like "pins and needles."

Intermediate stage

• Skin becomes hard
• It looks shiny or waxy
• When the skin thaws, blisters filled with fluid or blood form

Advanced stage

• Skin is very hard and cold to the touch
• Skin darkens quickly. It may look blue and later turn black

Some people don't know they have frostbite because as it gets worse, you can't feel the area anymore.  
RECOVERY TIME FROM FROSTBITE? The recovery time for a frostbite injury depends on the extent of tissue injury and whether or not there are any subsequent complications, such as infection. It may take 1 to 3 months before it is possible to determine the extent of tissue damage, and to clearly delineate which tissue is still viable.
SOMETIMES the skin OR THE LIMB cannot be saved and it has to be AMPUTATED. 

COLD FACTS: Wind Chills, Frostbite and Hypothermia (which can be fatal)

For at least the next week, the Eastern and Central U.S. will continue to see DANGEROUS cold, Arctic temperatures with wind chills near or Below Zero. 

TIPS  - Don’t stay out long. Frostbite occurs on exposed skin in 30 minutes under these temperatures. Hypothermia can be fatal. 

*Dress in Layers. *Do NOT Exercise outdoors. 

*Do NOT Leave pets outside or walk them- take pets out quickly, or use indoor pee pads. 

Here are the facts:

WHAT IS WIND CHILL - The windchill temperature is how cold people and animals feel when outside. Windchill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. As the wind increases, it draws heat from the body, driving down skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature. Therefore, the wind makes it FEEL much colder. If the temperature is 0°F and the wind is blowing at 15 mph, the windchill is -19°F. At this windchill temperature, exposed skin can freeze in 30 minutes.

Frostbite on fingers

FROSTBITE OCCURS – Within 30 minutes during these Arctic Outbreak temperatures the Eastern and Central U.S. is currently experiencing.

For example, A  temperature of 0°F and a wind speed of 15 mph creates a wind chill temperature of -19°F. Under these conditions frost bite can occur in just 30 minutes. ... Extremely cold temperature can also cause hypothermia, when the body's temperature dips below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

WHAT DOES FROSTBITE DO? You have frostbite when your body tissue freezes. The most susceptible parts of the body are fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose. Symptoms include a loss of feeling in the extremity and a white or pale appearance. Get medical attention immediately for frostbite. The area should be SLOWLY rewarmed using warm, not hot water.

WHAT DOES FROSTBITE LOOK LIKE? * This website has very disturbing pictures of what Frostbite looks like to feet and hands: http://www.theprepperjournal.com/2014/12/02/prevent-identify-treat-frostbite/

 

WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA?

• Hypothermia occurs when body temperature falls below 95°F. Determine your temperature with a thermometer.
• Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and exhaustion.
• Get medical attention immediately. If you can't get help quickly, begin warming the body SLOWLY. Warm the body core first, NOT the extremities. Warming extremities first drives the cold blood to the heart and can cause the body temperature to drop further--which may lead to heart failure.
• If you are helping someone else with hypothermia, get the person into dry clothing and wrap in a warm blanket. Be sure to cover the head and neck.
• Do not give the person alcohol, drugs, coffee, or any HOT beverage or food. WARM broth and food is better.
• About 20% of cold related deaths occur in the home. Young children under the age of two and the elderly (those more than 65 years old), are most susceptible to hypothermia.
• Hypothermia can set in over a period of time. Keep the thermostat above 69°F, wear warm clothing, eat food for warmth, and drink plenty of water or fluids other than alcohol and caffeine to keep hydrated.
• Avoid alcohol because it will LOWER your body temperature.

 FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/cold/faqs.shtml