Winter storms are bringing severe weather to several parts of the US this weekend — including the kind of brutal cold that can cause frostbite.
Frostbite happens when the skin and the tissue under the skin freezes, which can happen much more quickly than you might imagine. It can cause blood clots, gangrene, and long-lasting damage to muscles, tendons, nerves and bones.
The cause: Frostbite is affected by both the outside temperature and the wind chill factor. As the speed of the wind increases, our bodies cool at a faster rate, causing the skin temperature to drop. Higher altitudes can also increase the speed at which skin can freeze.
👇👇👇👇 [Google Ads]
The National Weather Service has created a that shows the time it might take to develop frostbite at varying temperatures and wind speed. It shows that your skin would freeze in a scant five minutes if you were out in minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 31.7 degrees Celsius) with a wind speed of just over 25 miles per hour.
Risk factors: You are more susceptible to frostbite if you smoke, take medications called beta-blockers, have , or have diabetes or , a condition in which strong emotions or cold temperatures cause blood vessels to spasm and block blood flow to extremities.
Older people and people who live outside without proper clothing, heating and food are also at high risk, as are hikers and hunters who aren’t properly clothed and stay outdoors too long.
👇👇👇👇 [Google Ads]
Here’s more on .
You Might Also Like
Live updates: Baltimore Key Bridge collapse news and rescue efforts
Live updates: California atmospheric river-fueled storm brings rain and flooding to Los Angeles, San Diego and throughout state
Live updates: James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Michigan school shooter, sentencing
