NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Snowballs and snow angels are fun. However, with very low temperatures here in Arkansas during this arctic blast, it only takes a few minutes of exposure for you to be at risk of frostbite or hypothermia.
"The first sign is going to be pale skin, cool, clammy. You're going to have blue around the lips, your fingers are going to be a little red, tingly, your ears, nose, things like that," said Captain Patton, the Assistant Fire Marshall at the North Little Rock Fire Department.
He explained how hypothermia happens when your body loses heat faster than it can actually produce it.
"You want to limit your exposure to the temperatures outside by making sure that you have several layers of clothes on. You want to make sure that you're using scarves toboggans, gloves, thick socks, insulated boots, things of that nature to keep your body heat in," Captain Patton said.
He said that during the last few days, their department has dispatched several firefighters to numerous cold-related calls.
"We've responded to several of them, especially with the homeless that are struggling to find a place [to stay]. That's been quite a few of the calls," He added.
Though everyone wants to enjoy the snow while it's here, he recommends doing it in increments and avoiding long periods outdoors.
"You want to make sure that you're observing the conditions outside because temperatures can drop really fast as the day goes on. You want to make sure that you take plenty of breaks to rewarm yourself inside and drink plenty of fluids. Make sure that you have something to eat because your body processes and produces heat," Captain Patton said.
Hypothermia can start off in different stages from mild to severe, and some of the signs can include:
- Shivering
- Dizziness
- Lack of coordination
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Memory loss
- Slurred speech
"If those are not caught in time, you can go downhill really quick, and go into severe hypothermia where your body's going to completely shut down. In that case, you need to call 911 start CPR, and get some help," Captain Patton explained.
For more information regarding hypothermia, please click here.