Norton Healthcare discusses the importance of staying aware of frostbite and hypothermia

LOUISVILLE, Ky,- Norton Health Care is urging residents to stay alert for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

Experts say it’s important to know the difference between the two conditions and their symptoms.

Frostbite occurs when skin and surface tissue freeze causing numbness and hardness most commonly affecting extremities like fingers and toes.

Hypothermia is more life-threatening and happens when the body’s core temperature drops below 95 degrees.

Health experts warn that improper treatment can be just as dangerous as the conditions themselves, and urge people to seek medical help when symptoms appear.

“Your body’s ability to tell what’s safely hot is impaired. So using gentle rewarming techniques, removing all the wet clothing and slowly rewarming those extremities with a, I would say a lukewarm to help warm water would be ideal. Definitely avoid any boiling water or direct heat like a heating pad or something where you can actually tell that it’s too hot” said Thomas Cunningham, Norton Emergency Medicine Medical Director.

The experts also say if the warming techniques are not working, and your body stops shivering, to seek medical attention immediately.