Do You Know the Signs of Frostnip and Frostbite?

Do You Know the Signs of Frostnip and Frostbite?

My husband and I went out to ski on a cold, brisk morning. We left the house and the temps said 8 degrees. We continued to drive towards the mountain and the degrees kept dropping little by little. We had our warm thermal layers on, wool socks, sweat shirt, gloves, face mask, snow coat and snow pants, helmet, and goggles.

The sun was out and we were hoping it would warm up a bit more and we would also warm up with all the skiing. We got in our first 4 runs and they went smoothly and we didn’t have issues with the cold. We took a break and went inside to relax a little, catch our breath, grab some water, and warm up a little more. At the time we were doing great so we figure we would get in a couple more runs before heading home.

I didn’t notice at the time but my fingers were starting to get a bit more cold than normal the second time we went out. I reached for my hot hands to warm them up and put them in my gloves while we rode the lift back up again. I have gloves and not mittens so I could not keep the hot hand near my finger tips while we skied. We got to the top and I took my hot hand out and headed down the mountain.

No joke, within 5-10 minutes I couldn’t feel my fingertips, my hands were numb/tingling, and I felt like I had zero grip on my poles. I had to stop on the side, take my gloves off and grab for my hot hand immediately. I put my hands in my pockets and held onto the hot hands till I got some feeling back. My fingertips were so red when I took my gloves off and what I didn’t realize was I was in that stage of frostnip. I couldn’t believe how quickly I could develop it even with my gloves on and holding my poles tightly.

I made it down to the bottom and went straight inside the lodge to warm up and then I went to the bathroom to put some warm water over them to slowly heat them back up. I now know I definitely need some different gloves/mittens that can actually deal with extreme temps and or hold a hot hand in them while I ski. This was definitely the coldest day we had ever skied on so I learned my lesson about how much extra gear you may need to accommodate the conditions. 

Thus, I want to make sure we know all the signs so we can react quickly:

The first signs of frostnip (the mildest form of frostbite) include:
• Skin turning red or pale
• A tingling or numb sensation
• Cold, firm skin


If exposure continues, frostbite can develop, with signs such as:
• Skin becoming white, gray, or bluish
• Waxy or hard skin texture
• Increasing numbness or loss of feeling
• Swelling or blistering in severe cases

​Early detection is key, if you notice these signs, get to a warm place and gradually rewarm the affected area. Stay safe out there! XOXO Kimmy