Some tips on staying safe when wind chills become dangerous

MILWAUKEE (WITI) — Another blast of arctic air will affect southeastern Wisconsin this week — and coming with it, the potential for dangerous wind chills. Daytime wind chills are expected to be between -10 and -25 on Thursday, February 19th.

A cold spell involving dangerous wind chills can send some to the burn center with frostbite.

“They really need to think ahead when they`re going out on an evening where it`s cold. A lot of times they`re homeless patients, mentally ill patients, oftentimes drug or alcohol abuse patients who aren`t aware of what`s going on,” Dr. Daniel Ochelek with Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital said.

Doctors say it’s important that anyone with symptoms beyond minor pain and numbness see a doctor within 24 hours.

“The next symptom would be a visual change — like the change in the color from being pink or white to actually being bluish and that`s a really bad sign,” Dr. Ochelek said.

Any time the temperature is below 10 degrees, or the wind chill dips below -10, Repairers of the Breach on West Vliet Street extends the hours of its daytime warming shelter and stays open overnight.

Milwaukee homeless shelters:

Repairers of the Breach – 1335 West Vliet Street, Milwaukee (414) 934-9305

Milwaukee Rescue Mission – 830 North 19th Street, Milwaukee (414) 344-2211

Milwaukee Women’s Center – 728 North James Lovell Street, Milwaukee (414) 449-4777

Guest House of Milwaukee – 1216 North 13th Street, Milwaukee (414) 345-3240

Salvation Army Emergency Lodge – 1730 North 7th Street, Milwaukee (414) 265-6360

CLICK HERE for further Milwaukee-area shelter listings.

CLICK HERE for cold weather tips from the CDC.

CLICK HERE to monitor the forecast via FOX6Now.com.

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