Health Department Warns: This Cold Will Have a Bite
The cold weather that has been forecast for Douglas County is expected to be the most severe of the season. Please don’t take your health and safety for granted.
“When temperatures and wind chills fall well below zero, you can be injured almost instantly by your environment,” Douglas County Health Director Dr. Adi Pour said. “The only one who really can protect you, is you.”
Hypothermia is an abnormally lowered body temperature caused by exposing yourself to extremely cold weather for too long. This condition can cause confusion, making it hard for you to know there is a problem. It may start with shivering and fatigue, but as your condition becomes more serious, you will no longer shiver and your skin will turn blue, pupils will dilate, and you may lose consciousness. Immediate medical assistance is required.
Frostbite is the freezing of body tissue, which usually affects the nose ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes. It causes less blood to flow to the affected areas and you may experience an aching or numbness, a tingling or stinging, and you could have bluish or waxy skin. At the first hint of a problem, you should get out of the cold.
“Because of the numbness, you may not know you have frostbite until someone points it out to you,” Dr. Pour said. “Getting yourself into warm conditions is the first thing you should do.”
People with frostbite should:
· Avoid walking on frostbitten feet or toes – that can increase the damage.
· Put the affected area in warm – not hot – water.
· Warm the affected area with body heat, such as putting fingers under your armpit.
“Remember, while it may be tempting to rub the affected areas, that can cause more damage,” Dr. Pour said. “Also, you should not use excessive heat on the injured areas, which are numb and easily can be burned. The bottom line is – you must be extremely careful in this dangerous weather,” Dr. Pour said.