Old Man Winter is making himself right at home. A wind chill advisory is in effect for LaPorte, Starke, Pulaski, Fulton, Marshall and Kosciusko Counties from late Wednesday night through Thursday afternoon. Wind chills of between 15 and 20 below zero are expected. Frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes when temperatures are that cold, and hypothermia is likely. That’s when the body loses heat faster than it can be produced. Symptoms include intense shivering, slurred speech, drowsiness and loss of coordination.
Anyone who must venture out is urged to dress in layers and cover all exposed skin to prevent frostbite. Initial symptoms include cold skin and a pricking feeling, followed by numbness, red, white, bluish-white or grayish-yellow skin which becomes hard or waxy looking. Clumsiness will occur due to joint and muscle stiffness and in extreme cases will be followed by blistering after rewarming.
Frostbite is most likely to occur on exposed areas like the face, ears, fingers and toes. Frostbitten skin can be gently rewarmed by placing hands and feet in warm water for 15 to 30 minutes. Direct heat from a stove, heat lamp, heating pad or fireplace should not be used, as it can cause burns. Affected areas that could freeze again should not be thawed and should be wrapped up again to prevent them from refreezing.
If possible outdoor pets should be brought indoors. If that’s not feasible, make sure they have a shelter with straw for warmth and an ample supply of water that is not frozen. Also, when temperatures are this cold, small animals tend to seek shelter underneath the hood of a car next to the warm engine block. Knock on your vehicle’s hood before starting it to check for their presence.
