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Frostbite: What are the signs and symptoms? How to treat it and provide care

Frostbite: What are the signs and symptoms? How to treat it and provide care
NOW AT WXII 12.COM. GREENSBORO POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A MAN ACCUSED OF RAPING SOMEONE AT AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY. OFFICERS HAVE CHARGED EDWARD MCLAUGHLIN FOR THE ATTACK AT HARMONY AT GREENSBORO. WE’RE TOLD HE RAN AWAY FROM THE FACILITY BEFORE BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. HE IS ALSO CHARGED WITH BREAKING AND ENTERING. HARMONY SENT US A STATEMENT SAYING THE ATTACK WAS ISOLATED, AND THEY WILL LOOK AT ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES. A MAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND CRITICALLY INJURING SOMEONE IN WINSTON-SALEM IS FACING ADDITIONAL CHARGES. OFFICERS TELL US MICHAEL MORROW JUNIOR IS NOW CHARGED WITH SEVERAL DRUG AND GUN POSSESSION CHARGES AFTER OFFICERS GOT A SEARCH WARRANT. MORROW WAS ARRESTED YESTERDAY FOR A SHOOTING ON PETERS CREEK PARKWAY EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. THE VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. NO WORD ON HIS CONDITION. STATE TREASURER DALE FOLWELL IS ASKING THE NORTH CAROLINA INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION TO APPROVE A LINE OF DUTY. DEATH FOR GREENSBORO POLICE SERGEANT PHILLIP DALE PHOENIX. SERGEANT NIX DIED DECEMBER 30TH, AND POLICE SAY HE WAS TRYING TO STOP A ROBBERY AT A SHEETZ AND COLFAX. THE PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES DEATH BENEFITS ACT ALLOWS THE COMMISSION TO AWARD A $100,000 DEATH BENEFIT WHEN AN OFFICER IS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. NEW. AT 4:00, MORE MOLD HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN FOUND IN CLASSROOMS AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ALAMANCE COUNTY. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ALREADY SPENT MORE THAN $20 MILLION LAST YEAR FOR MOLD CLEANUP ACROSS THE DISTRICT. JOSHUA DAVIS JOINS US FROM ALAMANCE COUNTY WITH MORE ON THIS STORY. AND JOSHUA, THIS ISN’T THE NEWS THIS DISTRICT WANTS TO HEAR. IT ABSOLUTELY ISN’T. DAVONTE. FOUR MORE CLASSROOMS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO HAVE MOLD HERE AT EASTLAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ABS SAYS IT SPEAKS TO THE ISSUES THEY’VE BEEN HAVING ACROSS THE DISTRICT. THE MOLD WAS DISCOVERED BY CONTRACTORS WHO WERE REPLACING OLD WINDOWS AND FOUR CLASSROOMS OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. WEDNESDAY. THOSE CLASSROOMS WERE BLOCKED OFF, NOT FILLED WITH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, BUT INSTEAD CREWS WORKING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. LES ATKINS, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, SAYS THE MOLD IS SURFACE LEVEL AND THEY PLAN TO HAVE IT TESTED AND REMEDIATED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. HE SAYS IT’S ONE OF A FEW ISSUES THE DISTRICT IS WORKING TO RESOLVE AFTER SEVERE WEATHER LAST WEEK. THE DISTRICT ALSO PROVIDED PHOTOS THAT SHOWS WHAT SOME TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SINCE LAST FRIDAY. THEY COME IN EARLY SOMETIMES AND MOP FLOORS, MOVE AROUND DESKS AND WORK AROUND BUCKETS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, AND WE JUST ARE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR RESILIENCE AND THE WORK THAT THEY’RE DOING TO JUST GO ABOVE AND BEYOND. AND I THINK I SAID TO SOMEONE YESTERDAY, OUR STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN PARTNER WITH OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AS THEY PREPARE THEIR UPCOMING BUDGET TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP FIX AND ALLEVIATE SOME OF THESE ONGOING ISSUES. ATKINS ALSO SAYS THE SCHOOL WILL WILL PRESENT BUDGET REQUESTS TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN THE COMING WEEKS, WITH THE HOPE A NEW BUDGET WILL BE ADOPTED BEFORE THE NEW FISCAL YEAR STARTS IN JULY. IN ALAMANCE COUNTY, I’M JOSHUA DAVIS FOR WXII 12 NEWS. JOSHUA. THANK YOU. THERE’S A NEW INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF THOMASVILLE CITY SCHOOLS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPOINTED DOCTOR ALISA MCLEAN TO THE POSITION AT THEIR LATEST MEETING. THE BOARD IS STILL LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT. THE U.S. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE MADE A STOP IN THE TRIAD TODAY. DEPUTY SECRETARY SOCHI TORRES SMALL VISITED NCAA STATE UNIVERSITY’S 492 ACRE FARM. SHE MET WITH RESEARCHERS AND VISITED FACILITIES WHERE STUDENTS LEARN SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES. ANT IS ONE OF TORRES’S SMALL STOPS AS SHE TOURS COLLEGES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND TODAY SMALL ANNOUNCED THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WILL BE GRANTING AN ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION TO THE SCHOOL FOR RESEARCH ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. WHEN YOU INVEST IN AGRICULTURE, YOU’RE INVESTING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, BUT YOU’RE ALSO INVESTING IN A FUTURE FOR ALL OF US. WITH HEALTHY FOOD PROJECTS AT THE FARM INCLUDE THE BUILDING OF A CREAMERY, WHICH IS SET TO OPEN IN 2025. STUDENTS THERE AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ARE OUT OF THE CLASSROOM TODAY. THE UNIVERSITY MADE THE CALL TO SUSPEND CLASSES. DUE TO HEAT DISRUPTIONS IN, QUOTE, MANY BUILDINGS DURING THIS EXTREME COLD, WE’RE SEEING. WE ARE WORKING THIS AFTERNOON TO GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT HOW MANY AND WHAT BUILDINGS ARE
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Frostbite: What are the signs and symptoms? How to treat it and provide care
The bitter cold temperatures could raise your risk for frostbite if you’re outside for too long. But what is it, and what do you do about it?WHAT IS FROSTBITE?Frostbite happens when a specific body part freezes, such as fingers, toes, the nose or earlobes. Often, you may not even realize it's happening. The American Red Cross provided these signs on how to recognize the symptoms of frostbite.SIGNS OF FROSTBITE Numbness in the affected areaSkin appears waxySkin is cold to the touchSkin is discolored (flushed, white or gray, yellow or blue)What should you do if someone has frostbite?Move the person to a warm placeHandle the area gently; never rub the affected areaWarm gently by soaking the affected area in warm, but not hot, water (100–105 degrees) until it appears red and feels warm Loosely bandage the area with dry, sterile bandagesIf the person’s fingers or toes are frostbitten, place dry, sterile gauze between them to keep them separatedAvoid breaking any blistersDo not allow the affected area to refreeze This process can be repeated twice a day until there are clear signs that the affected body part is beginning to heal, according to NHS UK, such as the growth of new skin and the return of normal skin color.Do not smoke, as this can affect blood circulationIf there is severe frostbite, you'll need to be admitted to a specialist unit: This is often a specialist burns unit because exposure to very high temperatures can cause the same type of injury as exposure to very cold temperaturesEven if the frostbite you're looking at is not as serious, it will need medical attention. Or else, frostbite can permanently damage your skin, muscles, bones and tissues.RISK FACTORS FOR FROSTBITE Reduced blood circulation from conditions, such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, or Raynaud phenomenon, according to John Hopkins MedicineConstricted blood flow to the extremities due to gloves, boots, socks, or other clothing items that are too tightLack of appropriate clothing to match weather conditionsWindy conditions, which cause more rapid cooling of the skin and body Certain medicines like beta blockers SmokingMore weather coverage: Weather Alerts | Closing and delays | Latest weather forecast | Post pictures to the uLocal North Carolina Facebook Group | Traffic information | Report closings and delays | SkyCams | Download the WXII12 News mobile app

The bitter cold temperatures could raise your risk for frostbite if you’re outside for too long.

But what is it, and what do you do about it?

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WHAT IS FROSTBITE?

Frostbite happens when a specific body part freezes, such as fingers, toes, the nose or earlobes. Often, you may not even realize it's happening.

The American Red Cross provided these signs on how to recognize the symptoms of frostbite.

SIGNS OF FROSTBITE

  • Numbness in the affected area
  • Skin appears waxy
  • Skin is cold to the touch
  • Skin is discolored (flushed, white or gray, yellow or blue)

What should you do if someone has frostbite?

  1. Move the person to a warm place
  2. Handle the area gently; never rub the affected area
  3. Warm gently by soaking the affected area in warm, but not hot, water (100–105 degrees) until it appears red and feels warm
  4. Loosely bandage the area with dry, sterile bandages
  5. If the person’s fingers or toes are frostbitten, place dry, sterile gauze between them to keep them separated
  6. Avoid breaking any blisters
  7. Do not allow the affected area to refreeze
  8. This process can be repeated twice a day until there are clear signs that the affected body part is beginning to heal, according to NHS UK, such as the growth of new skin and the return of normal skin color.
  9. Do not smoke, as this can affect blood circulation
  10. If there is severe frostbite, you'll need to be admitted to a specialist unit: This is often a specialist burns unit because exposure to very high temperatures can cause the same type of injury as exposure to very cold temperatures

Even if the frostbite you're looking at is not as serious, it will need medical attention. Or else, frostbite can permanently damage your skin, muscles, bones and tissues.

RISK FACTORS FOR FROSTBITE

  • Reduced blood circulation from conditions, such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, or Raynaud phenomenon, according to John Hopkins Medicine
  • Constricted blood flow to the extremities due to gloves, boots, socks, or other clothing items that are too tight
  • Lack of appropriate clothing to match weather conditions
  • Windy conditions, which cause more rapid cooling of the skin and body
  • Certain medicines like beta blockers
  • Smoking

More weather coverage: Weather Alerts | Closing and delays | Latest weather forecast | Post pictures to the uLocal North Carolina Facebook Group | Traffic information | Report closings and delays | SkyCams | Download the WXII12 News mobile app