Watch out for frostbite during extreme cold The article on
hypothermia that appeared in the Saturday, Dec. 29, edition of
the Cortez Journal contained valuable information. Hypothermia
can be fatal. Frostbite is a condition that is more common in
extreme cold. It affects extremities only: fingers, toes, nose
and ears. Uncovered extremities are at greatest risk, sometimes
in just a few minutes of exposure, but even covered ones can be
affected in less than an hour of cold conditions. Extremities
exposed to cold turn red as the body increases blood flow in an
effort to warm the impacted area. If the exposed extremity
changes color from red to white, this is a warning sign of
frostbite. This occurs because the capillaries carrying warm
blood constrict as a result of the cold and are no longer able
to supply warmth to the extremity. A loss of feeling often
accompanies this restriction of blood flow. Adults as well as
children need to be aware of this color change for themselves as
well as others to help prevent f