Season for frostbite arrives
With the cold and snowy weather pattern across the Inland Northwest, I’ve had a few questions asking about frostbite. One of my KREM co-workers asked me last weekend about the symptoms of frostbite. This is a medical condition when the skin and other tissues become damaged due to extreme cold.
When the temperature falls below 32 degrees, blood vessels close to the skin begin to narrow in order to preserve the body’s temperature. When one is exposed to cold for an extended period, the blood flow in some areas of the body drops to dangerously low levels. The combination of cold and poor blood flow causes severe tissue injury.
If one were to have frostbite, the hands become numb, ear lobes burn and there’s also numbness on the feet and face. There is constant shivering and speech becomes slurred and sometimes incoherent. A person may stumble while walking or can’t even get to their feet.
When an individual exhibits these signs, which may be quite dangerous, immediately get them to a warmer place. Give them something warm to drink, but nothing alcoholic like whiskey or rum. Elevate their legs so that blood runs back toward the head. If this doesn’t work, see a doctor or go to the emergency room as soon as possible.
Last, but certainly not least, to avoid frostbite one should always dress warmly in loose layers of clothing during periods of extreme cold. One should cover their face and wear a hat. If your socks get wet, they should be changed immediately.
Never take your gloves off except for brief periods. Finger tips can begin freezing in sub-zero weather in less than 15 minutes. Mittens are better than gloves as far as keeping one’s hands warm and toasty.
Speaking of cold temperatures, we should see some chilly weather around Christmas and through the rest of the year. Sub-zero readings are possible toward mid-to-late of January as a series of cold snaps arrive in the region.
Many folks, especially skiers, were not thrilled when much of the snow was wiped out by the warm spell in early December. At that time of year, we usually see our first snow melt off from the warmer temperatures about 80 percent of the time. However, the recent snows should stay with us despite slightly warmer temperatures expected next week.
More snow will arrive around the Christmas holiday, which should give us at least a 60 percent chance of a brilliant white Christmas, if all goes according to plan. There’s also a chance of snow falling on Christmas Day. It’s going to be close. As I said last week, Ma Nature has the final say.
Another round of warmer than normal temperatures is expected shortly after New Year’s Day, but readings will not be as mild as they were earlier this month. Then, more cold and snowy weather arrives near the second week of January, as the cooler than normal sea-surface temperature event, La Niña, continues to direct Pacific storms into our area.