Cold 'bites' students

Bundle up -- it's cold out there.

"I don't want to sound like everyone's mother here," he said. But with recent low temperatures and wind-chill factors, frostbite is more likely than many students think, he said. Dansky estimated that University Health Services sees about one student everyday with complaints of frostbite when the temperature is below 10 degrees.

Of the areas most susceptible to frostbite, the hands, feet and facial area are targets for the cold because of lower blood circulation, he said. The nose and ears are the most susceptible because they are the most exposed, Dansky said. Body heat is mostly lost through the scalp and head area, he added.

"It is important for people to realize that we lose most of our body heat when we're out in the cold," Dansky said. "If you're out in the cold for an extended period of time, wear a hat."

Many of the students who come into University Health Services located in the Ritenour Building with frostbite complaints have been skiing or sledding outside, he explained.

"Most people were out having fun and enjoying themselves," Dansky said. "You're moving and you're active and you don't feel as cold, but you're still exposed and it's usually for an extended period of time. When you're skiing, the wind is much higher up there and they won't feel it as much."

Harris Temin (sophomore-biology) said it is hard to resist warm layers.

"I always try to wear a hat because quite frankly it's cold up here," he said. "I don't know if I'm worried about frostbite as much as I am about just being cold."

Signs of minor frostbite include blanched, pale skin, which can be treated by coming inside and re-warming the skin area. Frostbite becomes a more serious issue when blistering occurs.

"First degree is blanched skin," Dansky said. "It's like a sunburn, it goes away with time, but I do tell those people not to go back out. Don't make it worse than it is. There are further degrees such as tissue destruction. It sounds gory, but it can actually be a gangrene case."

In addition to keeping warm, Dansky suggests basic healthcare to help ward off winter illnesses.

"We see frostbite not too infrequently," he said. "Anything anyone can do as a lifestyle -- eat well, drink lots of fluids and dress warm -- it's a good healthy thing to do."