LANSING, Mich. — After the polar vortex a few weeks ago, most Michiganders thought the worst was over.
Although that may be the case, that doesn't mean we are out of the woods yet, with more cold temperatures coming this week.
"The winds. That's really the big deal. The wind chill. We thought we were kind of done with it, we hoped we were done with it, and now we've got to deal with that for the next few mornings," Rob Dale of Ingham County Emergency Management said.
The groundhog may not have seen his shadow, but Michigan is bracing itself for another few days of cold. Nurses say the cold of this winter has brought in people suffering from cold-related injuries.
"We are aware that there is a new cold snap coming through and we have had a few cases of frostbite from cold exposure," Sparrow Nurse Practioner Deanna Wennberg said.
Wennberg says to protect yourself, stay hydrated to help with your body's circulation, wear more layers, and use common sense.
"You want to limit your exposure to the extreme cold and make sure you're bundled up and that you're wearing gloves, you have a hat on, you're wearing boots. Make sure that the garments aren't too tight because that can hold the cold in and make the exposure worse."
Emergency Management also stressed having an emergency kit in your car just in case. They said the extreme temperatures and recent storms have made this winter one to remember.
"This is like two completely different winters. The first half up until late January was actually on the warm side. We didn't have snow other than that November snow. Then since then, it's kind of been nonstop. We've been very cold. So when you at the overall, it's called a normal winter, but I don't think this is what we typically expect around here," Dale said.
Symptoms of frostbite include numbness, tingling, and skin discoloration. Contact your healthcare provider if you feel like you have these signs.
