LINCOLN, Neb. -- A Nebraska hospital is seeing an unprecedented amount of frostbite injuries since severe winter weather hit the state last week.

According to CHI Health St. Elizabeth, other facilities across the state and Iowa have asked to transfer patients to its Regional Burn and Wound Center in Lincoln or asked for guidance on how to treat cold-weather injuries.

Specialists say they received 13 admissions for frostbite care over the weekend and more than 40 calls for outpatient care. Some patients had been outside for 45 minutes and others had been exposed for more than six hours. Some were related to shoveling snow and some involved a fall.

Nurse Specialist Esther Rathjen says she has never seen such alarming numbers in her 23 years in the department.

“You know, when you, when you feel those, your nose is tingling and your cheeks are burning and they are bright red," said Rathjen. "It’s time to get inside. It’s time to get in and get warm, and then you can go back out in a little bit. You know, the work will always be there, but warm, dry and short exposure times are the key."

Rathjen says, as long as a patient comes to the burn unit within 24 hours of the initial cold exposure, doctors can typically unthaw the patient's tissues and avoid or limit amputation.

If someone must go outside, Rathjen says they should make sure clothing is dry, wear layers and make sure that skin is covered.

The hospital had to add clinic appointment times at least twice over the weekend and extend clinic hours.