(01/29/19)- The emergency room at McLaren Healthcare in Flint has seen it's share of winter weather related patients coming into the ER recently.
"A lot of broken wrists, and ankles, some shoulder injuries, some hip injuries, the emergency department the last couple of weeks has been inundated with slip and falls from the ice and the snow." said Dr. Raymond Rudoni, physician director for McLaren Emergency Department.
But with record low temperatures expected the next few days, those cases could turn much more serious than just a few broken bones.
Hypothermia is a significant possibility. That's when there is a dangerously low drop in body temperature after being exposed to extremely cold conditions.
"It depends on their hydration status, how well they are dressed, if they're layered, if they're covered, if they're exposed to wind," Rudoni said. "All these things play into how long it takes before Mother Nature starts to get the best of us."
He said hypothermia starts with uncontrolled shivering, which is the body's initial attempt to warm up.
"The problem is after that if you are in a situation where you can't get out of the cold or bundle up," Rudoni said.
Once hypothermia begins, the seriousness of the situation increases by the minute.
"Then it turns into a little bit of panic because the adrenaline kicks in and you kind of know you're in trouble," Rudoni said
The panic gives way to confusion.
"And you start to slow down and you might have difficulty talking or moving or walking. Once it gets to that point, the brain starts to cool down, the spinal cord starts to cool down, then the body is in trouble and hypothermia has set in," Rudoni said.
With the bitterly cold temperatures forecast on Wednesday and Thursday, it only takes 10 to 15 minutes of exposure before hypothermia gets serious.
"Ice crystals will begin to form on those exposed areas which can cause irreversible skin damage and tissue loss if you're not careful, which is why it's very important to keep everything covered," Rudoni said. "Even those goofy face masks. Put one on, don't let your cheeks be exposed, with this wind and these temperatures, you could do significant damage in a short period of time."