LANSING, Mich. — With temperatures expected to drop drastically, experts are warning people how fast frostbite can set in.
"I'm super nervous to some outside. Literally, the only reason I would come outside would be if the fire alarm goes off and they force us to," Arlene Duncan said.
And according to experts, that might be a good idea.
"We have a big issue with people saying this is just Michigan weather. And it is Michigan, and we are tough but its been decades since we've had this. A lot of people alive today simply weren't around the last time it was this cold," Rob Dale of Ingham County Emergency Management said.
The last time temperatures didn't warm up above zero was 1994. Doctors said that with the cold, you need to bundle up and make sure you don't have any skin exposed.
"In that kind of extreme weather, you can start to get what's called frostnip within five to ten minutes. And then frostbite, which is the second process after frostnip, can happen in as little as 15 to 20 minutes after exposure," Sparrow Urgent Care Physician Song Yu said.
Dr. Yu says symptoms of frostbite include numbness, a tingling sensation, pain and skin discoloration. If this happens he says it's important to get somewhere to warm up.
"The best maybe, safest way to re-warm yourself would be to immerse the fingers or toes under warm water, not hot water, warm water."
Dr. Yu advised if you see your skin start to change color, go see a doctor right away. Both experts I spoke with say its best to just stay inside because this weather isn't something to mess around with.
"You may think 'this is something I've dealt with before,' or 'it's not a big deal,' yeah if you're outside for just a few minutes... it's not. But any longer than that it could be life-threatening," Dale said.
The body parts that are most prone to frostbite are your fingers, toes, ears, and cheeks. Which is because your body cuts off blood to the extremities to protect your core.
