What Is Frostbite?
Freezing of skin and the tissue under it from cold, especially fingers, toes, ears, and nose. Strong wind makes it happen much faster. In technical terms: Tissue injury from freezing, beginning when skin temperature drops below about -0.5 degrees C; the NWS wind chill chart indicates frostbite in about 30 minutes at a wind chill near -18 F (-28 C) and in 10 minutes or less near -35 F (-37 C) and below.
Frostbite In Plain English
Freezing of skin and the tissue under it from cold, especially fingers, toes, ears, and nose. Strong wind makes it happen much faster.
The Technical Definition
Tissue injury from freezing, beginning when skin temperature drops below about -0.5 degrees C; the NWS wind chill chart indicates frostbite in about 30 minutes at a wind chill near -18 F (-28 C) and in 10 minutes or less near -35 F (-37 C) and below.
Lessons That Use Frostbite
- Wind Chill, Blizzards And Cold Safety Unit 11: Winter Weather
