Cold snap aside, experts say February tends to be the worst month for frostbite cases in Greeley
By Kelly Ragan
When Lyndsay Deeter sees a temperature dip in the forecast, she prepares to deal with a lot of calls about frostbite.
Deeter, a burn care specialist with North Colorado Medical Center, said even barring the cold snap earlier this month, February tends to be the worst month for frostbite in Greeley.
“Many people with symptoms of frostbite tend to be homeless,” Deeter said. “There’s also high incidents of substance abuse with patients who present with frostbite. When they come in, we want to make sure they’re getting taken care of and not exposed to elements that are life or limb threatening.”
The UCHealth Burn and Frostbite Center on the Anschutz Campus in Metro Denver reported caring for a record-breaking number of frostbite patients during the cold snap, said UCHealth spokesperson Kelly Tracer in an email.
“At that time, we had 26 patients with frostbite hospitalized there, the most we’ve ever had at one time,” Tracer said.
While temperatures have (thankfully) rebounded, Colorado isn’t out of the woods yet.
According to AccuWeather forecasts, Greeley could see snow throughout the week with temperatures reaching lows in the teens and 20s.
How to prevent frostbite
The best thing folks can do to prevent frostbite is to be prepared, Deeter said. That might mean having appropriate layers to keep warm, limiting the amount of alcohol you consume, or making sure your gear stays dry.
According to UCHealth, you can prevent frostbite by:
Dressing in layers and keeping outerwear dry
Choosing loosely woven fabric for the inside layer
Take frequent breaks indoors, if possible
Cover your head with a hat or earmuffs
Wear heavy mittens instead of gloves
Wear two pairs of thinner socks, which provide better insulation than a single pair of thicker socks
Keep a winter survival kit in your car that includes blankets, matches and extra clothes
Symptoms of frostbite
Rebecca Garber, a burn care specialist for Banner Health, said that if you warm up your limbs and they still look pale and feel numb, you should get to the emergency room right away.
Don’t wait to develop blisters, she said.
According to UCHealth, symptoms also include:
Shivering
Numbness
Pale color to the skin
Clumsy movements
Pain that persists for 45 minutes after rewarming
Increased redness or discoloration after rewarming
If you suspect you have frostbite, seek medical attention immediately. Doing so can help prevent more long-term damage, Deeter said.