(Le Mars) — Its no secret that frost bite can quickly occur when you are exposed to dangerously low temperatures and equally dangerous wind chill conditions. Mary Jo Clark serves as the Emergency Room Coordinator for Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. She says frost bite can happen before you realize anything is wrong.
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The official temperature at the Le Mars airport at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, was six degrees below zero with winds blowing between 12 and 18 mph. Clark explains how fast frost bite can occur under those conditions.
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Clark says Floyd Valley hospital has treated several cases of frost bite this winter, including this past week. She says if you need to be outside, then you should bundle up, and limit your time outdoors. She says a person’s face, nose, ears, fingers and toes are usually the first areas to suffer from frost bite.
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The Floyd Valley nurse says if you notice blisters, or some whiteish color or chrystalizing of the skin, you should go to the hospital for immediate care.
