With the promise of a blast of Arctic air in early December, thanks to a polar vortex, it’s important to know the symptoms of cold weather-related emergencies such as frostbite and hypothermia.
Read on to learn the symptoms, as well as what to do should you ever contend with them.
What are frostbite symptoms?
According to the American Red Cross, frostbite occurs when a body part, such as your fingers, toes or nose, starts to freeze.
Symptoms of frostbite include:
To prevent frostbite, take the following precautions:
What to do if someone has frostbite
Here’s what to do if you suspect you or someone else has frostbite, according to the Red Cross:
What are hypothermia symptoms?
Hypothermia symptoms include shivering, numbness or weakness, a “glassy stare”, apathy or impaired judgement and loss of consciousness, the American Red Cross says.
According to the Westchester County Department of Health, there’s a risk of accidental hypothermia even indoors, with temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees.
“Warning signs of hypothermia in adults include shivering, confusion, memory loss, drowsiness, exhaustion and slurred speech,” the county’s website says. “Infants with hypothermia may appear to have very low energy and bright red, cold skin.”
Here are some tips to prevent hypothermia, from Westchester County and the New York State Department of Health:
What to do if someone has hypothermia
First, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number, the American Red Cross website says.
Next, gently move the person to a warm place, and monitor their breathing and circulation. Give rescue breathing or CPR if necessary. Remove any wet clothing and dry the person off.
Warm the person, slowly. You can do so by wrapping them in blankets or changing them into dry clothing.
“Hot water bottles and chemical hot packs may be used when first wrapped in a towel or blanket before applying,” The Red Cross says. “Do not warm the person too quickly, such as by immersing him or her in warm water,” and warm them at their core (abdominal area) first, not their extremities such as hands and feet.
To see a list of free warming shelters, check this story.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: What are symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia? What to know
Reporting by Ashley Catherine Fontones, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
