Top Tips to Prevent, Detect and Treat Frostbite

By

Kim Hayes,

A majority of states have plunged into frigid temperatures as a deep freeze and serious winter storms hit. As record-setting cold snaps affect millions, it is more important than ever to be

aware and prepared for the possibility of frostbite. It is especially crucial to look out for older family members. ​​Older people are more at risk for frostbite, says Dawn Marie Davis, a

dermatologist with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

​​“When you are older, your tissues are weakened and they don’t heal as well,” she says. Older people are also more likely to have blood vessel diseases, which make people more susceptible

to frostbite.​ ​Frostbite is a bodily injury caused by exposure to extremely cold temperatures, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Freezing temps can

result in loss of feeling and color in affected areas of your body — most often your extremities. Frostbite can permanently damage your body, and in severe cases, it may lead to

amputation.​

Davis says frostbite can happen in a matter of minutes, depending on conditions. Other than cold temperatures and the amount of clothes you have on, wind and altitude can also make frostbite

more likely. A damp, wet type of cold or having wet clothes also increases risk. People can get frostbite under clothes as well as on exposed skin.​​

Risks for developing frostbite include:​ 

guidance on how to dress appropriately, and older people in general may not have access to proper food, clothing or heating.)​Staying outdoors for long periods (homeless people, hikers,

hunters, etc.)​Drinking alcohol in excess or using illicit drugsTaking medication for high blood pressureHaving diabetesHaving peripheral artery disease (PAD) Smoking

Prevention

​Try to stay indoors as much as possible when the weather is extremely cold. If you must go outside, dress properly, and make sure that loved ones at high risk are also dressed

appropriately. As the Swedish saying goes, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothes.”​

When going outside in cold temperatures, be sure to wear:​ 

coat​Several layers of loose-fitting clothing​

Make sure that the body parts most often hit by frostbite are covered in warm, dry clothing: nose, ears, toes, cheeks, chin and fingers.

Frostbite can occur in several stages, according to the Mayo Clinic.

1. Frostnip

Frostnip is a mild form of frostbite and leads to numbness. As the skin warms, it can be painful, but it doesn’t cause permanent skin damage.