❄️❄️It's #FunFactFriday and it's #Winter ❄️❄️

Let's talk #WinterSafety and #FrostBite

Did you know there are different stages of frost bite?

The first stage is called #FrostNip

Frostnip occurs when the tissue is cooling because of the constriction of blood vessels and the resulting inadequate blood supply to the area. Your skin may get pale or turn red and feel extremely cold or numb.

Frostnip’s symptoms are much milder than frostbite, but being able to recognize them is important so you can stop the progression to frostbite.

Frostnip will irritate the skin. The affected area may sting, prickle, or burn, and have a deep cold feeling. This will progress into a tingling or a numbness. The skin may become red, white, or yellowish, but the skin will still be pliable and feel soft.

Many people describe an intense burning sensation as the skin begins to warm up and thaw out.

Frostnip occurs when skin is exposed to extreme cold for a sustained period of time. The body limits blood flow to your extremities in order to conserve heat. Cold weather injuries are most common on exposed skin. Ears, cheeks, fingers, toes, and noses are most likely to be affected by frostnip.

It’s also possible to develop frostnip if you aren’t wearing warm enough clothes, or if your clothes don’t protect against wind or wet weather. It’s important to change your socks regularly, as sweaty feet or “trench feet” can cause freezing. When feet are wet they lose heat 25 times faster than when they’re dry.

Take time to include winter safety in your hazard assessments, monitor wind and temperature conditions and make sure your workers have the right PPE and clothing to make it through this winter safely.

​