Cold Weather Injuries: Urgent Care or the ER?

Washington winters are a wonderland for snowshoeing, skiing and cold-weather adventures — but frigid temperatures can turn risky fast if you’re not prepared. Larry Madewell, MD, from Overlake Clinics Downtown Bellevue Urgent Care, breaks down when to choose urgent care versus the ER for common winter illnesses and injuries.

Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore 

Frostbite occurs when skin and underlying tissues freeze, most often affecting exposed areas such as the fingers, toes, ears and nose. Signs of frostbite include:

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• Skin that feels cold, numb, tingly or burning.
• Skin that turns reddish at first, then white, waxy or grayish-yellow.
• Stiffness or clumsiness as blood flow decreases. 

Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing body temperature to drop dangerously low.
Signs of hypothermia include:

• Uncontrollable shivering.
• Exhaustion.
• Confusion or memory loss.
• Fumbling hands or loss of coordination.
• Slurred speech.

As the body gets colder, shivering may slow or stop, judgment becomes impaired, and extreme sleepiness can occur. At this point, hypothermia is a medical emergency and requires immediate care.

Go to urgent care for:

• Mild frostbite: Skin appears pale or waxy but improves after rewarming and is not deeply painful.
• Mild hypothermia: Shivering and confusion are present, but the person is conscious and able to follow instructions.
• Non-life-threatening concerns: When you need prompt care, but symptoms are not severe.

Go to the ER for:

• Severe frostbite: Blistering, blackened skin, deep tissue damage, or complete loss of sensation.
• Severe hypothermia: Unconsciousness, slow breathing, inability to shiver or extreme confusion.
• Systemic or life-threatening problems: Chest pain, difficulty breathing, or stroke-like symptoms such as weakness or slurred speech.

If a winter injury or illness comes up, Overlake urgent care is here to help. View the full list of conditions treated at urgent care vs. the ER, save time with our “Get In Line” tool, and find Overlake urgent care locations across the Eastside.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.