Frostbite And Hypothermia Risks Rise As Temperatures Drop

Folks in South Dakota are no strangers to the cold. A drop below zero is just part of the winter we put up with to have out beatiuful spring and summer.

But, while we are made of tough stuff in SD, freezing temperatures can still affect us. Our skin can still freeze, and hypothermia still wants to take us down. So, going into the cold requires some forethought.

Read More: Dangerous Cold, Wind, Snow For South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa This Week

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When the temp falls below 32 degrees farenhight, that's when things get serious. That is the temperature at which water starts to freeze. And since our bodies are made up of mostly water, that can make things bad for us.

Frostbite is the first danger of the cold. That is what we call it when your skin starts to freeze. Your fingers, toes, nose, and ears are particularly at risk for frostbite. When our bodies get cold, blood gets redirected to our core to keep all the important parts warm. That leaves our extremities, like fingers, especially vulnerable to frostbite.

Numbness is the major red flag warning. When I was a kid, old folks would say, if it hurts, you're OK; it's when you can't feel it that you need to worry. Well, old advice aside, when it hurts is when you should take action. Get out of the cold, use WARM water to slowly warm the area back up.

If untreated, frostbite can take your fingers or ears. You will literally freeze your bodyparts off.

Hypothermia is the other cold-weather enemy to watch out for. It develops when our bodies can't warm up in the face of the cold air. The body temp frops from 98.6 degrees F to about 95 degrees. That's when things start to shut down. Heart and breathing slows and confusion and sleepiness develop.

Hypothermia and frostbite are dangers when the temperature drops, and the colder it gets, the faster both could happen. We're talking like minutes. The more and longer you're exposed, the worse things get.

To avoid Hypothermia and frostbite, bundle up. Exposed skin is the most at risk. Bundle up, hats, gloves, and layers of light warm clothing. And spend as little time out in the cold as possible.