LANCASTER – It’s important to know the difference between hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia is when the body temperature drops. A body temperature of 95 degrees is an emergency and you need to call 911. A person with hypothermia can suffer confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, shivering, weak pulse, and fumbling hands. Get the person to a warm room, remove any wet clothing, keep dry and wrapped in warm blankets, and drink warm liquids. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers, and toes. Persons with frostbite have numbness and tingling, red, white, blue, purple o0r brown patches of skin, the skin appears cold, hard, and waxy, and will experience pain. Persons with frostbite should go to a warm room and remove any wet clothing, soak the affected area in warm water, do not massage the area or use direct heat, and protect the affected area with loose bandages.
