January 18, 2008

Regions offers tips to avoid frostbite as temperature drop
St Paul, Minn. Regions Hospital emergency department physicians warn Minnesotans to bundle up this weekend as temperatures plummet. Prolonged exposure of the skin can lead to the destruction of skin and underlying tissue, also known as frostbite.

"Children, the elderly and those not dressed for extremely cold temperatures are at a greater risk," said Dr. Paul Travnicek, an emergency department physician. "The most common body parts to get frostbite are toes, feet, fingers, hands, nose and ears."

Doctors at Regions offer these tips for people who must venture outside this weekend:
-Clothing should protect all your extremities. Wear boots, scarves, hats and mittens.
-Dress in layers, including two pairs of socks. Clothes should fit loosely.
-Increase your resistance to frostbite by avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking.
-For those who will be traveling this weekend, keep blankets and emergency supplies in your vehicle. It's also better to travel with a friend in case help is needed.

Frostbitten skin may be hard, pale (white or blue), and cold. It may tingle, feel numb, or in the most severe cases, blister or turn black.

"Unlike what you see in the movies, you should not rub snow on frostbitten extremities," said Dr. Travnicek. "Instead, you should place your hands, for example, under warm (not hot) water or warm them up by placing them under your armpits. People whose skin does not look normal after thawing should go to the emergency room immediately."

Regions Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center and teaching hospital serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin for more than 130 years. Regions is a private, non-profit hospital providing outstanding care in women's health, heart, cancer, surgery, orthopaedics, neuroscience, burn, emergency care and more. Regions is part of the HealthPartners family of care. Additional information is available at regionshospital.com.