OMAHA, Nebraska – Exposing the skin to cold temperatures risks avoidable frostbite. Most commonly, the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin are affected. Any skin in direct contact with ice, or frozen metal and liquids, might succumb to frostbite. Frostbite risk increases in temperatures below 5 degrees. Wind chills of -16.6 degrees can lead to frostbite on exposed skin in less than 30 minutes. When cold skin becomes red, frostbite might occur. If exposure continues, the skin will become numb, hard and pale. These symptoms indicate the skin and underlying tissues are freezing. Because skin becomes numb with frostbite, the victim might not realize the tissue danger. Less severe forms of frostbite include frostnip and superficial frostbite. Frostnip does not result in permanent skin damage and can be treated with basic first aid, including rewarming the affected skin. As the skin is warmed, tingling and pain might occur. Superficial frostbite causes the skin to redden and…