Taking the bite out of frostbite

Dr. Kuldeep Sidhu
Dr. Kuldeep Sidhu, Chief of Emergency Medicine and Program Medical Director

Canada is known for having one of the most severe winter climates with temperatures dropping below zero for most of the winter months. With cold temperatures and regular snow falls, winter activities are very popular across the country, however when your body is exposed to the cold for too long there can be harmful effects to your health.

“When temperatures drop to -27° Celsius, the risk for frostbite increases,” says Dr. Kuldeep Sidhu, Chief of Emergency Medicine and Program Medical Director at North York General Hospital. “It is important to plan your activities or outings ahead to make sure you are dressed appropriately and have somewhere to seek shelter if caught outside for too long.”

The body's extremities like your ears, nose, fingers and toes tend to lose heat the fastest, followed by exposed skin freezing and causing frostnip or frostbite. Frostnip is a mild form of frostbite in which only the skin freezes. Frostbite is a more severe condition, where both the skin and underlying tissues freeze.

Dr. Sidhu says frostnip causes painful tingling or a stinging sensation and tends to make the skin appear pale, but the skin feels soft to the touch. Symptoms resolve with rewarming and skin loss does not occur. Frostbite progresses from stinging to numbness. A frostbite injury makes the skin appear white and is firm to the touch with no sensation. The degree of frostbite injury becomes clear with rewarming, causing severe throbbing, blistering and variable skin changes depending on the depth of the injury.

It is important to plan your activities or outings ahead to make sure you are dressed appropriately and have somewhere to seek shelter if caught outside for too long.

Thinking of skiing or snowshoeing this winter or spending time outdoors? Dr. Sidhu shares some tips on how to protect yourself against frostbite:

  • Wear appropriate clothing when going out. Make sure you have clothing that covers the skin that is most likely to be exposed to the cold such as your hands, head, ears, etc.
  •  If you start to feel numbness or a tingling sensation, it's too cold and your body isn't warm enough. Seek shelter if possible, if not try to stay warm by moving to generate body heat.
  •  If possible drink warm liquids and remove any wet clothing to avoid having your body temperature drop.
  • If you notice your skin is turning pale with symptoms of frostnip, it's time to go inside to warm up. Do not rub or massage the area, instead warm the affected area gradually with a warm hand or use warm water.
  •  If you notice you have symptoms of frostbite, warm the area gradually as with frostnip, however if the tissue doesn't seem to be thawing and you are in extreme pain, you may need to seek medical attention.

“The extreme cold can have other effects on your body like hypothermia which can be fatal,” says Dr. Sidhu. “You should seek medical assistance right away.”

While winter activities are very popular, preparing in advance for cold temperatures should always be top of mind.

This article first appeared in the February 2017 issue of The Pulse.

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