Chicago, IL (CBS) It just takes about 10 minutes of exposure to the elements before it becomes exceedingly detrimental to your body, as was the case Friday night in the Chicago area.
Marybel González of CBS 2 spoke with some doctors about precautions you can take. Cold is one thing, but biting cold is another. The latter is perilous, with air temperatures below zero and wind chills in the double digits.
Dr. George Chiampas, an emergency medicine expert, declared that the situation was “dangerously unsafe.” “Be organized
.”According to Chiampas, this is not the time to let your guard down. Second, if you’re going to go outside, try to limit your exposure to these temps to no more than 5 to 10 minutes at most, he advised.
Outside, layering is also essential. That entails wearing a hat, making sure your face is covered, and wearing gloves, according to Chiampas. Snow shoveling should be done in short bursts with minimal effort.
“Going from zero to 150, 180 with frigid temps can put a lot of strain on your heart,” Chiampas said. “For those persons who really haven’t necessarily exercised themselves, especially folks who may be a little bit older and have some underlying cardiac risk factors.”
In order to avoid falls, Chiampas advised being steady and slow.
Fortunately, it appears that steps have been taken. We called the hospitals in the area, and they informed us that since Thursday, Cook County Health institutions had only seen roughly 25 cases of cold-related ailments.
Experts believe that number may increase over the next few days.
So it’s entirely feasible that you might have some degree of frostbite right now and not notice it for a few days, González?
Chiampas: “Without question. You might spend an hour outside today, feel OK about it, and experience soreness in your fingertips or toes. However, over the course of the following three, four, or five days, tissue death or destruction may take place.”
Therefore, it’s crucial to monitor any symptoms that stand out from the norm. According to Chiampas, anyone with persistent discomfort or discoloration that does not go away once they are indoors and in a warmer environment should likely consult a doctor.
