The weather is turning bitterly cold and we could see subzero temperatures this weekend, frostbite could be a real threat for people to be aware of.

Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf says frostbite is when different body parts are freezing, which can lead to permanent body damage and possible amputation. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio the extremities that are the most susceptible to frostbite include the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes. The beginning stages of frostbite include a reddish color and painful looking skin. The more advanced stages include white or yellowish-grey skin, with firm or a waxy texture and the infected body part will feel numb.

Wolf says if you notice these signs, get the person out of the cold and into a warm environment. She gives some advice against some practices that could make frostbitten body parts worse.

“Do not use massaging of the area that is frostbitten because that can cause more tissue damage. The other thing that we might think about but you should not do are using a heating pad, a heating lamp, or even bringing them up to the heat of a stove or fireplace for warming. You don’t want to do that because the area is already numb and they can easily become burned.”     

Wolf advises to use warm, but not hot water and if that is unavailable, use body heat to warm up the infected areas. She recommends dressing in layers when outside in freezing temperatures and making sure the extremities are covered. 

According to the National Weather Service, the wind chill for Saturday and Sunday will be in the teens to 20 degrees below zero.