ER Doctor: Avoid Sunday's Bitter Cold
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Medical experts say you should stay inside instead of braving the bitterly cold weather on Sunday.
Dr. Gary Mayeux, an emergency physician at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, says you need to dress appropriately if you're going to be outside, even for just a few minutes.
"Anytime you're talking negative-degree temperatures, it can be a matter of only a few minutes before you developed signs of frostbite," Mayeux said. "You see it in the news recently, it can sometimes even develop into amputations of the area that are involved, so it can be very serious and life threatening."
Dr. Mayeux says they get one to two cases of frostbite a week, usually from people who didn't plan to be outside, like a driver whose car breaks down.
He suggests wearing extra layers and bringing extra clothes with you.
Some common signs of frostbite include numbness or a painful, prickly sensation on exposed skin.
The skin will also change color, turning red or white from blood loss.
In severe cases, there will be blistering. If you think you or someone is suffering from frostbite, seek immediate medical attention.
