ABC 4 uncovers frostbite dangers

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – Intermountain Medical Center Doctor Colin Grissom says Utah’s cold temperatures can cause frostbite damage to your body in as little at thirty minutes.

Frostbite is caused when skin and tissue freezes.

The length of time a person can safely remain in freezing temperatures varies depending on how much fluid and nutrients are in the body. Both help rush warm blood to extremities like hands and feet.

Another important factor is obviously clothing.

The first signs of frostbite is feeling cold and tingling. The next sign is numbness, which is sometime mistaken for wellbeing because the numb feeling replaces the pain signals your body is sending your brain to warm up.

Grissom says if your body is tingling or cold it’s warning you to warm up before frostbite sets in.

Treat frostbite by running warm water over your body. This can be dangerous if a frostbite victim attempts to do this without help. Frostbite can numb body parts and make it impossible to gauge dangerously hot water.