We’re no strangers to the cold here in the Northland but dealing with it so often makes it easy to forget how dangerous it can be. Dr. Dylan Wyatt, an emergency medicine physician at Aspirus St. Luke’s, offers some insight.

Frostbite and hypothermia: what is it?

Dr. Dylan: Frostbite is a freezing of skin. The deeper the freeze, the more damage has been done. It is usually seen on the face, nose, ears, and extremities. It can be classified in “Degrees” like burns (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th).

The risk of developing frostbite is based on ambient temperature and wind chill. Wind chill significantly lowers the effective temperature, leading to higher injury potential—humidity also plays a role. The risk increases substantially when the temperature goes below -5 degrees F.“Flash frostbite” can also occur in seconds when we touch metal that is colder than 5 degrees F.

Hypothermia is when our body temperature drops below 95 degrees F. This is usually marked by intense shivering – the body is trying to warm itself up immediately! This progresses in stages. If you are with someone and they start to shiver and act abnormally, immediately warm them up as they are progressing to dangerous higher stages of hypothermia.

Who is most at risk?

For both frostbite and hypothermia, those who are exposed to cold for long periods (outdoor workers/athletes, soldiers, homeless individuals) are the highest risk groups. Additional at-risks groups are the old and young. The elderly have decreased blood flow to their skin and can suffer from medical conditions that increase their risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Infants and young children have smaller bodies to generate heat and may be unable to communicate that they are cold.

Parents, please still take your kiddos outside in the winter (it’s good for both you and them!), but make it a habit to check on your kiddos throughout your winter outdoor activities!

What can we do at home?

The WHO says homes should be heated to 68 degrees to balance energy use and health. Everyone is going to be different in temperatures they are comfortable with.

Be sure to check in on older family members often in the wintertime.

How can the bitter cold affect our heart and lungs?

When exposed to cold, our bodies constrict the blood vessels in our extremities, ears, and nose surface to try and limit heat loss. This can place additional strain on the heart, leading to an increased risk in heart attacks and stroke in the cold weather. Individuals with respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma can also suffer exacerbations from the severe cold irritating their airways.

These aren’t hard and fast rules, however. When I talk to older, functional patients they always share how they are constantly active, no matter the weather outside. With proper layering and keeping an eye on the NOAA Wind Chill Chart, we can still have a good time outdoors!

What can we do when we have to go out?

The NOAA has put together a wind chill chart on their website that are an excellent resource for finding out how long we have before frostbite sets in. The top axis of the graph is the ambient temperature – what a thermometer would read. The left-side axis shows the wind speed in miles per hour. To use the graph find the point that matches the current outside temperature and wind speed. The bottom of the graph has a color-coded portion that shows how until frostbite sets in at a given windchill.

Consult the NOAA wind chill chart before going out to give yourself a “come in by” time after which things would start to become dangerous. If you’re an experienced outdoors person with good gear, of course, these numbers can change.

Layer up! With layers more of our body heat is retained rather than lost to the environment.

Take extra care of the young and old – they are more vulnerable!

If you think you have developed frostbite, immediately return to somewhere warm. Slowly warm the affected area, such as bathing it in tepid water. Remember the rewarming causes more damage than the freezing! And as always, stay healthy Northland!