Kosciusko County woke up to temperatures in single digits, lake-effect snow and subzero wind chill Thursday morning. The cold could be a health risk if the right precautions are not taken.
Warsaw’s forecast for today is mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 7. Wind chill values as low as -15. West wind around 10 mph. For tonight, mostly cloudy, with a low around -2. Southwest wind around 5 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
(AP Photo/WNDU)
During extreme cold temperatures like this you should be most concerned with fingers, toes, ear lobes and nose. It’s easy to remember because it rhymes, says Dr. Rob Riley. Those are the places that are most prone to frostbite.
Frostbite is when the skin freezes. That can happen when the wind is high, exposure is long, or if your skin is wet that really makes a big difference.
Elderly and young children are particularly susceptible to frostbite or hypothermia, when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, and drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
“When it gets bitterly cold it’s good to not keep them out excessive long periods of time and particularly if they’re out being active and sweating. That wet skin is more susceptible to frostbite so leaving them for very short periods of time for that really cold time can be good,” says Riley.
It’s not just people. Pets are just as vulnerable during these times.
Dr. David Visser with the Center for Animal Health says pets cannot be acclimated to the degree of temperatures that we are experiencing right now. All pets should be indoors or they should have access to a heated area like a garage. Being outdoors, even in a dog house is not going to work.
Dr. Visser pets should only have purposeful outdoor ventures, like going to the bathroom. Remove snow and ice from pads of feet— it’s a place that retains a lot of moisture and tends to get skin infections.
While pets are outside, owners should be careful of letting their dogs walk in areas where snow-melt products have been used because it can irritate the skin and. Paws need to be rinsed off not just dried off.
Some of the most sensitive skin on the body is on dog’s paws. While they do often have a lot of hair and fur that blocks the snow from hurting the space in there it retains a lot of moisture and it tends to be an area that gets a lot of skin infection and irritation. Dr. Visser advises to keep the hair short in that area to keep ice from building up in and make sure snow is cleaned out with a towel when coming back indoors.
