With the Extreme Cold Warning in effect for the Cariboo, Interior Health is reminding the public that frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin.
Resident Medical Health Officer, Jen Zuo explained what to look for if you suspect you do have frostbite.
“It can either be change of color from your regular skin tone, it can be paler, looking more white or grey. In more severe cases if your skin is pale it can turn a bit blue or brown in darker skin tones. This change of color depending on the severity, the skin can feel a little bit hard to touch and little bit waxy to touch.”
Zuo noted in severe cases you may have more difficulty to move that body part.
“Let’s say fingers with frostbite may feel more clumsy if you try to touch your fingers against each other. In more severe form you can also see blisters forming in the body part and in extreme cases the damaged skin can turn completely black and this can be a sign of permanent damage.”
Zuo noted that any form of frostbite should be examined by someone from healthcare and offered this advice of what not to do.
“We advise people to not rub the area that has frostbite and to not use a stove or a fire to warm up the area because your skin is more numb and cannot feel the heat and you may get the secondary chance of getting burned by doing this.”
Zuo added that if you are going outdoors to be well covered up with a warm hat that covers your ears, face protection like a ski mask, warm and water resistant boots, and to layer your clothing.
More information about frostbite and hypothermia can be found on the Interior Health website.
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