A local health professional warns of the symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia and how to treat and prevent them. 

Hypothermia is defined as a condition in which a person's body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Breann Melago, a nurse practitioner at QUICKmed Urgent Care in Liberty, says that hypothermia begins with the shivers before other symptoms appear.

"You could possibly lose coordination, you get fatigued, clumsy, you can start getting slurred speech, kinda just feeling off," she said.

Melago adds that these symptoms can progress into loss of consciousness, cardiac arrest, and kidney failure if hypothermia is not addressed.

Frostbite occurs when skin freezes after exposure to freezing temperatures, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

"Your nose might start getting numb and tingly, that might start getting extremely cold, almost painful, same with fingers and toes," Melago said.

Melago adds that affected areas may need to be amputated if they reach advanced stages of frostbite.

If symptoms of hypothermia or frostbite are present, the affected person is advised to go to a warmer area and slowly heat up affected areas of the body.

If heated up too quickly with an extreme heat source, Melago says it can cause further injury to the body.

If symptoms do not improve after a person is warmed up, they are advised to seek immediate medical attention.

Melago says the best way to prevent frostbite or hypothermia is to wear multiple layers and leave as little exposed skin as possible.

"Should only be your eyeballs showing once it gets under a certain temperature," she said.

She also recommends that people avoid jogging when freezing temperatures are present.