IOWA CITY, Iowa — A winter storm may be in Iowan's rearview mirrors, but officials with the University of Iowa Health Care are still dealing with the aftermath.
According to hospital officials, more than a dozen patients have received inpatient treatment for frostbite in the University's Burn Treatment Center, and over just a week, the center received more than 40 calls about frostbite cases. Additionally, they're seeing an increase in frostbite cases in elderly patients and stranded motorists.
The center offered the following tips for avoiding and treating frostbite:
- Dress in layers and minimize exposure.
- If driving, make sure the vehicle has a full tank of gas and keep extra warm clothes on hand. Use caution if stranded in your vehicle, it may be better to stay in your car as you wait for assistance.
- Temperature, dampness, and the duration of exposure are all factors that can contribute to frostbite. Consuming alcohol or using recreational drugs may worsen the injury.
- Treatment for frostbite includes rapid re-warming of the affected area in warm — not hot — water. The water should be only slightly warmer than body temperature — about 102-110 degrees F — and the area should be warmed only when it can be kept warm afterward. More damage will result if an area is warmed and then chilled again.
- Keep the injured area should be elevated and protected.
- Be sure to seek medical attention for any frost-bitten extremity. Time is of the essence. The risk of amputation is drastically reduced with immediate treatment.
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