According to the Farmer's Almanac and various weather reports, this winter is supposed to be the coldest winter we have expericenced in many years. The cold can be very dangerous, and it is important to protect yourself from it. Especially protect yourself from frostbite. Frostbite can occur in any temperature below the freezing point. So even if it is 32 degrees outside and you think it's not that cold, you can still get frostbitten.
When your out in the cold for a while, your body sends signals to you arms and legs telling the blood vessells to narrow. Less blood is flowing to your skin so more blood can flow to your major organs. This sustains your internal body temperature since blood is not flowing near the cold surface of your skin. As you are out in the cold, this continues to happen. If your body temperature begins to drop significantly below 98.6 degress, these blood vessels in your skin will permanently constrict. Blood stops flowing to areas of your skin so that cold blood does not return to you vital organs. Ice crystals can actually form outside skin cells, causing them to dehydrate, and consequently die.
Some signs of frostbite are itching, numbness, burning, tingling, and white spots. It is very painful when these areas are warmed up again and bloodflow returns. It may ache for a few days. In cases of more severe frostbite, skin may become yellowish with blisters or swelling. The skin becomes hard and might look black and dead. It is very important to seek medical help if you think you have any frostbite. Skin usually appears healthy at first, it does not turn black and dead for a while. Over time more and more damage can occur. A doctor needs to feel the skin and supervise the rewarming process. Protect youself from the cold. Keep your hands and ears covered. And if you feel extreme coldness or numbness, go inside and warm up.
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