WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — As the Cape Fear prepares for potentially severe winter weather, Novant Health is also getting ready to help residents affected by the storm.
Due to the expected accumulation of snow and ice, it’s important to be careful when going outside.
Terri DeWees is the director of trauma services for Novant Health.
She said exposure to cold temperatures for long periods can be dangerous, especially for your hands and feet.
“If your fingers or toes are not appropriately insulated, you can have frostbite, which is basically a burn, for lack of a better term to the skin,” DeWees said. “The tissues actually freeze and if they’re not rewarmed properly and quickly, you can potentially lose a finger or a toe.”
She said to make sure you’re wearing multiple layers if you plan on spending a lot of time outside.
-She added that Novant Health expects to see an increase in the number of people hurt from slipping and falling on ice.
“The number 1 injury or injury mechanism that we see at the trauma center is falls,” DeWees said. “And so when you actually add Mother Nature and ice and/or snow to that equation, we expect an increase in those types of injuries.”
DeWees added that it’s important to make sure you have good quality shoes and if you don’t need to be outside, stay indoors.
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