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Parts of the Dakota and Minnesota plunged this week to -27 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service. This is not only uncomfortable, this kind of cold can be dangerous and even deadly, especially if you do not take precautions about the length of your absence and your attire.
"I have seen patients develop frostbite about 10 to 15 minutes after being exposed to these extreme temperatures," said Dr. Jeff Schaider, Ari Shapiro, of NPR, at All things Considered. Schaider is Chief of Emergency Medicine at the John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital in Chicago and Head of Emergency Medicine at Cook County Health.
Just take a brief walk to the outside without a hat to give frostbite to the back of their unprotected ears, he says.
The damage caused by frostbite to the skin and underlying tissues are the most common lesions resulting from exposure to intense cold and usually affect the extremities of the body – fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin.
The damaged one skin typically first appears white, waxy or greyish yellow, says Schaider; he is cold and numb. Call your health care provider if you notice these symptoms. If the disease is detected early, it is possible to prevent permanent damage. Otherwise, frostbite can progress and result in the need for amputation.
An even more dangerous reaction begins when the body's internal temperature drops significantly, in a state called hypothermia. At first, when you're exposed to the cold, Schaider says, you'll shiver and it may be beneficial to keep you warm. But, as hypothermia progresses, your body the answer to the cold really diminishes.
"You'll stop shivering, then your body temperature will start to drop faster," he says. The body becomes colder and moves more slowly. Your mind is thinking more slowly. Your heart moves more slowly. And, as time pbades, he says, you become confused. You can go into a coma or die.
So, how do you protect yourself in the most affected areas? Start by reading local news to keep up to date on the latest weather warnings and stay indoors unless you have to go out. If you must go out, wear protective layers appropriate to your level of activity. (The cold weather authorities of the Appalachian Mountain Club have specific advice.)
And if you're driving in a car, said Schaider, be sure to pack clothes, a blanket, a hat and extra gloves (mittens are preferable), just in case something happens to your car.
In addition, recognize that alcohol consumption can affect your judgment and your physiology, he says.
"People who drink can sometimes walk outside because they do not feel as much the effects of cold when they are intoxicated."
They could be exposed to cold for a longer period than is safe in cold weather, he says, and their body temperature would begin to drop.
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