If you are outdoors in the winter, you need to take steps to prevent frostbite. Your hands, feet, face and ears are especially vulnerable, and frostbite can lead to amputations if the proper steps are not taken to warm your body. The first step is to learn what the early stages of frostbite are. If you see these signs in yourself or someone else, act quickly to avoid complications.
Sensations of Pins and Needles
According to the University of Illinois, if you are in extremely cold weather or in an area with a low wind-chill factor, frostbite can occur in just minutes. Often the first symptom is a pins and needles sensation in the affected area. Numbness or loss of sensation should be a sign that you need to warm up right away.
Reddish Skin and Swelling
The University of Virginia states that early frostbitten skin may take on a reddish color. It may also become swollen and hard to the touch. The affected area may also develop a waxy appearance. At this stage, going inside and immersing the area in warm water or using warm cloths can help to reverse the symptoms.
Change in Skin Color
In the early stages of frostbite your skin color may change from the reddish color to a pale or whitish color as circulation is decreased. At this stage swelling, itching or burning sensations may also occur. If you get to a warm area right away, these symptoms should disappear as your body temperature returns to normal.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that if the skin starts to turn a grayish or yellow color, your frostbite is getting worse and you need to quickly get out of the cold.
