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How does frostbite happen: Causes, Symptoms, Stages, Treatment & Prevention

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Causes, Symptoms, Stages, Treatment & Prevention

Overview

What is frostbite?

Frostbite is a potentially permanent condition that happens when your body tissues (like fingers, toes, ears) are injured by exposure to cold weather or cold water. You’re more likely to get frostbite during winter, in windy weather and at high altitudes. Even though your exposed skin gets frostbitten first, it can still happen even if your skin is covered.

How cold does it have to be to get frostbite and how long does it take?

Single-digit Fahrenheit temperatures are cold enough to cause frostbite. It’s important to remember that the colder it is outside, the faster you can get symptoms. In fact, you can get frostbitten in just half an hour or less when the wind chill is -15F (-26 C) or lower.

How is frostbite different from hypothermia?

Hypothermia happens when your body temperature drops below 95° F (35° C). Your normal body temperature is about 98. 6° F (37° C). Hypothermia is more serious and widespread in your body than frostbite, which affects specific parts of your exposed skin. Frostbite happens when part of your body freezes, damaging your skin cells and tissues. Just like ice coating your windshield, your skin becomes hard and white when frostbitten. You can get both hypothermia and frostbite at once, and both are medical emergencies.

Who is at risk for frostbite?

If you’ve got exposed skin in cold temperatures, you’re at risk of frostbite. You’re also at a higher risk of developing frostbite if you:

  • Take medicine for high blood pressure.
  • Have diabetes.
  • Smoke.
  • Have peripheral vascular disease, a serious condition involving blood vessels.
  • Have Raynaud’s phenomenon (Raynaud’s disease), a condition that involves periodic narrowing (or spasms) in the blood vessels.
  • Have poor circulation or dehydration.
  • Haven’t dressed appropriately for cold weather or high altitude (swimming, hiking or climbing).
  • Are an infant.
  • Are elderly.
  • Have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from protecting yourself against the cold (like fatigue, mental illness, heavy sweating).
  • Have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

What are the 3 stages of frostbite?

Frostbite begins with mild symptoms but quickly becomes a serious health risk the longer your skin freezes from exposure. There are three stages of frostbite, including:

  • Frostnip: During frostnip, if you notice symptoms at all, you may see that the affected skin is red or a pale white. The skin may also feel cold, numb or tingly. Frostnip is the warning stage when skin damage is still just temporary. So if you notice symptoms, get inside immediately and treat the area with warm (never hot) water. Afterward you may get small red bumps (chilblains) on your skin.
  • Superficial (surface) frostbite: In the second stage, your skin might feel warm, but the water in your skin is slowly freezing into ice crystals. Your skin may also sting or swell up. After rewarming, you might see mottled patches or purple or blue areas that hurt or burn (just like a bruise). Your red skin might start to peel and hurt just like a sunburn — and you need to seek immediate medical treatment. You may also get fluid-filled blisters in the area after a day or so.
  • Severe (deep) frostbite: In the third stage, your lower layers of skin (subcutaneous tissue) freeze and total numbness in the area sets in. You may be unable to move the area that’s frostbitten or you may not be able to move it normally. Get medical attention immediately. Big blisters will appear on the frostbitten skin a day or two afterward. Finally, the frostbitten skin turns black as its cells die from freezing. This black skin might form a hard black covering (carapace) that falls off on its own — otherwise it will usually need to be removed surgically.

If you notice any of the symptoms of the second or third stages of frostbite, get immediate medical treatment to help prevent long-lasting damage.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes frostbite?

Frostbite happens when your skin is exposed to cold temperatures or cold water. It can also happen when you’re exposed to temperatures that aren’t quite as cold, but you’re exposed for a longer period of time. Ice packs and cold metal can cause frostbite if they’re pressed directly against your skin. You can even get frostbite through clothing, including your fingers when you’re wearing gloves.

During frostbite, the water in your skin freezes, causing visible and invisible damage to your cells and soft tissues. Frostbite usually affects your extremities (fingers, toes and ears) first. But it’s just as easy to get frostbitten on your cheeks and chin. The cold can injure both your skin and the tissues underneath — like muscles, nerves and joints.

What are the symptoms of frostbite?

Frostbite becomes more severe as your skin temperature drops or the longer your skin stays exposed. Frostbite symptoms include:

  • Numbness.
  • A painful feeling of “pins and needles” in the exposed area.
  • Hardening of your skin that’s been uncovered skin too long in the cold.
  • Redness (for mild frostbite).
  • Pale or waxy color and feel (for more severe frostbite).
  • Swelling.
  • Blisters (clear or blood-filled) or scabs.
  • Loss of coordination (stiff movements, falling down).
  • Pain when rewarming the affected area.

What does frostbite feel like?

Frostbite is so dangerous because it often numbs your skin first, so you may not feel that anything’s wrong at all. You might feel pain in your skin that’s exposed to the cold. Or your skin might feel suddenly hard or soft. Severe frostbite often causes your skin to swell up, and you might also get uncomfortable blisters. You may start feeling feverish or suddenly clumsy.

What are the complications of frostbite?

When frostbite continues past the first stage (frostnip), it can have long-term or permanent side effects. You might feel symptoms of nerve damage (neuropathy), like always feeling numb, sweating heavily or being more sensitive to cold. You’re also more likely to get frostbitten again once it’s happened. Frostbite arthritis — stiffness usually found in the hands and feet — can settle in your joints months or even years later.

Your skin itself might change color, or your fingernails might be damaged or lost. If the skin has turned black, you’re also at risk of getting gangrene (a condition where the skin rots) or becoming infected. Knowing how severe and long-lasting frostbite is can help you take steps to prevent it.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is frostbite diagnosed?

There are no simple tests to tell how badly you’ve been frostbitten. Typically, your healthcare provider will diagnose frostbite by looking at the area, asking you about how long (and in what temperatures) you were out in the cold, and monitoring your symptoms over time. Depending on how severe your frostbite is, your provider may need to take an X-ray or use another imaging method.

During the physical exam, your provider will look to see if your skin turns white or red, gets blisters or turns black (the tissue dies). Clear blisters often mean the damage to your skin is temporary, but blood-filled blisters mean the damage is long-term. If your skin turns black but doesn’t shed, a surgeon will probably have to remove it to prevent gangrene.

Management and Treatment

How is frostbite treated?

Time is critical when you have frostbite. If you notice frostnip symptoms like pain or red fingers, get inside quickly and gently warm your skin. If you’re experiencing any symptoms from the second or third stages of frostbite, seek emergency medical help right away. Remove all wet clothing, wrap the affected area in a sterile (clean) cloth and then immediately go to the emergency room. Hospital staff will then:

  • Help raise your body temperature in lukewarm water or by applying warm, wet packs for up to half an hour.
  • Dress your frostbitten or wounded skin with sterile bandages, keeping your fingers and toes separated to avoid rubbing.
  • Test blood flow in the area. If you have stage three frostbite, your provider may also connect you to an IV bag (pouch with fluids) to improve poor circulation.
  • Give you antibiotics and pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil ®, Motrin ®), for example.
  • Possibly give you a tetanus booster, if needed, since frostbite puts you at higher risk for tetanus.
  • Rehydrate you by giving you water (frostbite dehydrates your tissues).
  • Give you oxygen therapy. For extreme frostbite, your provider may have you breathe pure oxygen inside a pressurized room. This treatment, called hyperbaric oxygen therapy, helps some people heal faster by increasing their blood-oxygen levels.

Never treat frostbite with anything hot to the touch. Avoid using space heaters, electric blankets, fireplaces or hot water.

Do I need surgery for frostbite?

In some cases, your provider may need to perform surgery to remove any dead skin and tissue after you heal (this may take days or even months). In the case of severe (deep) frostbite, surgeons may need to remove (amputate) the fingers or toes if the tissue has died or gangrene has developed.

How do you treat frostbite by yourself?

If you’re in a remote area or you’re unable to go to the hospital, your first priority is to make sure you’ll stay warm and not refreeze — as this can cause further skin damage. To warm back up, follow these steps:

  • Remove all wet clothing.
  • Elevate the injured area slightly.
  • Warm your skin by soaking the frostbitten area in warm water (around 105 F or 40.5 C). Since the skin may be numb, be careful not to burn it with hot water. Burning could cause more damage to the tissue. When your skin feels soft again, you can stop warming it.
  • Cover the frostbitten area with sterile (clean) cloth. If your fingers or toes are frostbitten, wrap each one individually. Make sure you keep them separated to avoid stress or pressure.
  • Try not to move the area at all. Avoid walking on frostbitten toes or feet.
  • Don’t rub frostbitten areas because rubbing skin that’s hard or numb can cause tissue damage.

Can you have frostbite and not know it?

Many people who get frostbite are completely unaware that they have it. Because frostbite numbs your nerves and can cause damage deep inside your skin, you might not notice any symptoms after coming in from the cold. Stay safe by going inside and warming back up.

What if my child has frostbite?

You might not know if your child has frostbite. Infants don’t shiver like adults because they don’t have as much energy stored up. And older children are usually too busy having fun outside to notice they’re frostbitten.

If your baby or toddler has recently been outside in the cold for even 10 minutes, it’s time to check on them. If you notice parts of their skin are red, white or gray, immediately call 911. If your children are older and they’ve been outside too long without covering up completely, remove their wet clothing and dry them under blankets. Leave the affected areas uncovered but elevated. Use a tub full of warm — but not hot — water to help children of any age recover from the cold.

Prevention

How can you prevent frostbite?

Stay safe and take simple precautions to help prevent frostbite and its symptoms.

  • Avoid going outside: When it’s cold out, try to stay indoors.
  • Limit your trips: If you do have to go outside, try to limit it to 10 or 15 minutes before going back inside for a few hours.
  • Dress warmly before going out: Dress appropriately whenever you know you’re going to be in cold temperatures. Layer your clothing, wear two pairs of socks, a thick hat, mittens (never gloves — gloves don’t keep your fingers together to warm them) — and a heavy scarf over your face and mouth. Keep your ears covered since they’re so easily frostbitten.
  • Wear windproof and waterproof clothing: Wear clothes designed to keep the weather out and to keep your head and neck area warm.
  • Don’t cut off your circulation: Make sure your boots and clothes aren’t too tight. This can cause poor circulation. Avoid cramped positions and stay moving to keep a good blood flow.

When traveling in cold weather, always bring your phone with you. It’s your lifeline to medical help if you have an accident or get stuck on the road. Finally, pack a car emergency kit in your vehicle. That way you’re prepared with first aid, food and water, gloves, boots and blankets whenever the weather turns bad.

Can animals get frostbite?

Remember you’re not the only one who can get frostbite — your pets can too. Be sure to keep them warm inside when cold weather’s on its way. Don’t wait until it’s already snowing to let dogs back in or to stable your horses.

Outlook / Prognosis

How long does it take to recover from frostbite?

Recovery and treatment depend on which stage of frostbite you were in, and how long you were in it. The first stage’s symptoms are often just temporary. However, the second and third stages usually cause permanent skin and tissue damage. If your exposure was very serious, you may lose the affected limb, finger or toe to autoamputation (where your limb or finger or toe falls off on its own) or surgical amputation.

If you suffer mild to moderate frostbite, you may become sensitive to cold and pain — and you may also have ongoing numbness. And if you suffer severe or “deep” frostbite, you might also have:

  • Damage to your tendons, muscles, nerves and bones.
  • Arthritis, bone deformities, scars and skin and nail changes or weakness.
  • Gangrene (blackened, dead tissue).

What can I do to help my skin heal from frostbite?

Help your skin heal by staying warm inside. Once you’ve been frostbitten, the worst thing you can do is to go back outside that day, even after you’ve warmed back up. Keep your injured skin elevated and don’t walk on your feet or toes if they hurt. Replace your tight socks with loose-fitting ones to reduce swelling. Anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers can help if you feel any swelling or burning pain. Applying soft lotion can help you relieve frostnip symptoms.

Note From Cleveland Clinic:

Stay safe inside or make sure everyone dresses warm whenever cold weather’s about to roll in. Not only will you feel more comfortable, you’ll also help protect yourself and your loved ones against frostbite and all the serious health risks that go along with it. If you’ve been exposed to the cold for more than half an hour in extremely cold conditions and think you may have frostbite, be sure to seek immediate medical attention.

How to Spot It, Treat It and Prevent It

What Is Frostbite?

Frostbite is when exposure to freezing temperatures damages areas of your skin and the tissues underneath. It’s a treatable but potentially serious condition.

What Are the Symptoms?

When it’s cold out, skin that’s not covered may get red or sore. This is called frostnip, and it’s an early warning sign of frostbite. If this happens, find warm shelter quickly.

Symptoms of frostbite depend on how deep it goes into the body. There are three stages. Early frostbite affects the top layers of the skin. More advanced cases can go all the way to the muscles and bones.

Early stage

  • Skin turns a pale yellow or white
  • It may itch, sting, burn, or feel like “pins and needles.”

Intermediate stage

  • Skin becomes hard
  • It looks shiny or waxy
  • When the skin thaws, blisters filled with fluid or blood form

Advanced stage

  • Skin is very hard and cold to the touch
  • Skin darkens quickly. It may look blue and later turn black

Some people don’t know they have frostbite because as it gets worse, you can’t feel the area anymore. That’s why you need to look for changes in skin color.

Frostbite Emergency Symptoms

Go to the emergency room right away if you suspect frostbite. Some warning signs may include:

  • Your skin color changes color or becomes hard.
  • Your skin stays numb (you can’t feel anything).
  • You have severe pain as your skin thaws.
  • Skin blisters start.

Frostbite Causes

Just like water turns to ice when the temperature drops, your fingers, hands, toes, feet — even your nose and ears — can freeze if exposed to extremely cold weather or you touch something very cold, like ice or frozen metal. Being farther away from your core, these are the first areas affected by decreased blood flow in response to cold.

You’re more likely to get frostbite if you don’t dress properly for cold, windy, or wet weather, or you wear clothes that are too tight in those conditions.

How soon frostbite happens depends on how cold and windy it is outside. It can happen faster than you may think. In frigid weather it’s possible for frostbite to happen in just 5 minutes.

Frostbite Diagnosis

There’s no specific test for frostbite. Your doctor will ask how long you were out in the cold and what the temperature was. They’ll look closely at your skin and may recommend an X-ray or another kind of scan to see if there’s any serious damage to bone or muscle.

Frostbite Treatment

Frostbite home care

First, get to a warm place. Don’t rub your skin. That can damage it if it’s frozen.

Don’t place cold hands or feet in a tub of hot water. If your skin is numb, you may not be able to feel if the water is too hot. That could cause further damage. Instead, soak the affected hands and feet in warm water (104 F to 107 F), or place a washcloth with warm water on the affected areas that can’t be submerged, like nose and ears, for at least 30 minutes.

Your skin should start to heal quickly. As it thaws, it may get red. You may also feel painful stinging or prickling sensations, like “pins and needles.”

Frostbite hospital care

At the hospital, the staff will try to warm you up, restore blood flow to the affected area, and stop further damage. You may:

  • Have warm sponges placed on your nose, ears, or other frozen body areas
  • Be given pain medicine for nerve pain that may flare as your skin warms up
  • Get imaging tests, like an MRI, to see how many layers of skin are damaged
  • Have skin that is dead scraped off

Some studies suggest that aspirin or other blood thinner meds may help restore blood flow in body parts with severe frostbite if your doctor gives you them within 24 hours of rewarming. A treatment called hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in which you get 100% oxygen in a controlled setting, is also being studied as a possible treatment. So far, the results are mixed.

In extreme cases — like if you have blackened skin tissue and blood flow won’t come back — you may need surgery to remove that area. This is to stop it from becoming infected and causing more damage.

Frostbite Prevention

These cold-weather clothing tips can help:

Layer your clothing, loosely. Tight clothing raises your risk of frostbite. Instead, choose loose layers that allow body heat to get around.

You want three layers:

  • The first should be of a material that helps keep you dry.
  • The second goes over the first and should be made of an insulator like wool or fleece.
  • The third should be worn on top and should be windproof and waterproof.

Make sure your hat covers your head and ears. Get yourself a wool or fleece one with ear flaps. This will keep your ears warm and protected.

Choose insulating mittens or gloves. Don’t take them off to use your smartphone. If texting is a must, look for a pair with textured fingertips that allow you to swipe.

Don’t skimp on socks or shoes. Feet are very vulnerable to frostbite. Layer a pair of wool socks over some that resist moisture. Wear warm, waterproof boots that cover your ankles.

If you sweat, unzip at least for a few minutes. Wet clothing — either from snow or sweating — makes you more likely to get frostbite. Make sure snow can’t sneak inside your winter outfits.

How to Spot It, Treat It and Prevent It

What Is Frostbite?

Frostbite is when exposure to freezing temperatures damages areas of your skin and the tissues underneath. It’s a treatable but potentially serious condition.

What Are the Symptoms?

When it’s cold out, skin that’s not covered may get red or sore. This is called frostnip, and it’s an early warning sign of frostbite. If this happens, find warm shelter quickly.

Symptoms of frostbite depend on how deep it goes into the body. There are three stages. Early frostbite affects the top layers of the skin. More advanced cases can go all the way to the muscles and bones.

Early stage

  • Skin turns a pale yellow or white
  • It may itch, sting, burn, or feel like “pins and needles.”

Intermediate stage

  • Skin becomes hard
  • It looks shiny or waxy
  • When the skin thaws, blisters filled with fluid or blood form

Advanced stage

  • Skin is very hard and cold to the touch
  • Skin darkens quickly. It may look blue and later turn black

Some people don’t know they have frostbite because as it gets worse, you can’t feel the area anymore. That’s why you need to look for changes in skin color.

Frostbite Emergency Symptoms

Go to the emergency room right away if you suspect frostbite. Some warning signs may include:

  • Your skin color changes color or becomes hard.
  • Your skin stays numb (you can’t feel anything).
  • You have severe pain as your skin thaws.
  • Skin blisters start.

Frostbite Causes

Just like water turns to ice when the temperature drops, your fingers, hands, toes, feet — even your nose and ears — can freeze if exposed to extremely cold weather or you touch something very cold, like ice or frozen metal. Being farther away from your core, these are the first areas affected by decreased blood flow in response to cold.

You’re more likely to get frostbite if you don’t dress properly for cold, windy, or wet weather, or you wear clothes that are too tight in those conditions.

How soon frostbite happens depends on how cold and windy it is outside. It can happen faster than you may think. In frigid weather it’s possible for frostbite to happen in just 5 minutes.

Frostbite Diagnosis

There’s no specific test for frostbite. Your doctor will ask how long you were out in the cold and what the temperature was. They’ll look closely at your skin and may recommend an X-ray or another kind of scan to see if there’s any serious damage to bone or muscle.

Frostbite Treatment

Frostbite home care

First, get to a warm place. Don’t rub your skin. That can damage it if it’s frozen.

Don’t place cold hands or feet in a tub of hot water. If your skin is numb, you may not be able to feel if the water is too hot. That could cause further damage. Instead, soak the affected hands and feet in warm water (104 F to 107 F), or place a washcloth with warm water on the affected areas that can’t be submerged, like nose and ears, for at least 30 minutes.

Your skin should start to heal quickly. As it thaws, it may get red. You may also feel painful stinging or prickling sensations, like “pins and needles.”

Frostbite hospital care

At the hospital, the staff will try to warm you up, restore blood flow to the affected area, and stop further damage. You may:

  • Have warm sponges placed on your nose, ears, or other frozen body areas
  • Be given pain medicine for nerve pain that may flare as your skin warms up
  • Get imaging tests, like an MRI, to see how many layers of skin are damaged
  • Have skin that is dead scraped off

Some studies suggest that aspirin or other blood thinner meds may help restore blood flow in body parts with severe frostbite if your doctor gives you them within 24 hours of rewarming. A treatment called hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in which you get 100% oxygen in a controlled setting, is also being studied as a possible treatment. So far, the results are mixed.

In extreme cases — like if you have blackened skin tissue and blood flow won’t come back — you may need surgery to remove that area. This is to stop it from becoming infected and causing more damage.

Frostbite Prevention

These cold-weather clothing tips can help:

Layer your clothing, loosely. Tight clothing raises your risk of frostbite. Instead, choose loose layers that allow body heat to get around.

You want three layers:

  • The first should be of a material that helps keep you dry.
  • The second goes over the first and should be made of an insulator like wool or fleece.
  • The third should be worn on top and should be windproof and waterproof.

Make sure your hat covers your head and ears. Get yourself a wool or fleece one with ear flaps. This will keep your ears warm and protected.

Choose insulating mittens or gloves. Don’t take them off to use your smartphone. If texting is a must, look for a pair with textured fingertips that allow you to swipe.

Don’t skimp on socks or shoes. Feet are very vulnerable to frostbite. Layer a pair of wool socks over some that resist moisture. Wear warm, waterproof boots that cover your ankles.

If you sweat, unzip at least for a few minutes. Wet clothing — either from snow or sweating — makes you more likely to get frostbite. Make sure snow can’t sneak inside your winter outfits.

Frostbite – Better Health Channel

Frostbite occurs when the tissues of the skin freeze. This can happen during prolonged exposure to cold weather, or even after a few minutes in extremely low temperatures. Cold winds increase the likelihood of frostbite because the movement of air removes body heat away from the skin more rapidly.

Factors such as exhaustion, hunger and dehydration further lower the body’s defences against frostbite. The extremities, such as the hands and feet, are typically at risk because of their greater susceptibility to heat loss.

Frostbite is often the result of a lack of preparation. The risk can be reduced with greater awareness and preparation for cold weather conditions.

Formation of ice crystals in skin cells

When the body is exposed to very low temperatures, it tries to prevent heat loss by redirecting the blood away from the extremities such as fingers and toes. If exposure is prolonged, ice will start to form inside and around skin cells. The ice crystals block the movement of blood through the fine mesh of capillaries, which means the tissue is deprived of oxygen and nutrients. The longer the tissue remains frozen, the greater the amount of damage.

Symptoms

Symptoms of frostbitten skin may include:

  • Cold, white and hard skin
  • Pain
  • Itching
  • Loss of feeling in the affected area
  • Mottled skin
  • Swelling and blistering
  • The skin becomes red and blotchy when warmed
  • Tissue loss, depending on the severity of the frostbite.

Severe frostbite

If the fluid inside blisters is clear, then a full recovery is likely. However blood-filled blisters signal damage to the deeper tissues.

Typically, the affected skin becomes hard and black. This is called dry gangrene. Wet gangrene, where the skin looks soft and grey, can also occur. Gangrenous skin will eventually fall away but, in some cases, surgery is required to remove it.

First aid

First aid for frostbite includes:

  • Seek shelter and reduce further exposure to the cold and wind.
  • Remove any wet or restrictive clothing and replace with dry clothing wherever possible.
  • Wrap the person in blankets and warm the person’s entire body.
  • Do not rub the affected area.
  • Do not expose the person to direct radiant heat such as a fire.
  • Take the pressure off the affected area to prevent further damage; for example, don’t allow the person to walk on frostbitten feet.
  • Don’t allow the person to smoke cigarettes, since nicotine constricts the blood vessels.
  • Do not attempt to thaw affected part if there is a chance of it being refrozen.
  • Do not break blisters.

Thawing the affected area

Most of the damage of frostbite occurs during or after rewarming or thawing of the affected tissues. Damage can occur when an area is rewarmed and then exposed again to cold.

Thawing is painful and should only be attempted when medical assistance is not immediately available. To thaw an area affected by frostbite:

  • Apply warm towels or immerse the area in circulating warm water.
  • Do not use hot water.
  • Do not rub the area in any way.
  • Once thawed, wrap the affected area in clean bandages.
  • Avoid exposing the affected area to cold or wind.
  • Seek professional help immediately. Dial triple zero (000) in an emergency.

Thawing and refreezing is dangerous

If frostbite occurs far from help, it may be unwise to thaw out the affected areas in case they refreeze again.

If the feet are frostbitten, but the person has no option other than to keep walking, it is better to walk on frozen feet, since thawed tissue can be greatly harmed by mechanical damage or pressure.

Treatment options

A person with severe frostbite needs to be treated in hospital. Treatment options in hospital include:

  • Warming the extremities in water
  • Testing the blood circulation in the affected areas with scans
  • Medications, to prevent infection
  • Antibiotic lotions
  • Tetanus shot
  • Keeping the warmed extremities dry and sterile
  • Rehydration of the person
  • Oral and intravenous drugs, to improve circulation
  • Highly nutritious foods
  • After a few weeks or months, surgery to remove the blackened dead skin.

Long-term damage

A person who has experienced severe frostbite will have long term damage, despite the best medical care. The damage may include:

  • Numbness
  • Sensitivity to the cold
  • Problems with nail growth.

Preventing frostbite

Exposure to cold weather, even for relatively brief periods of time, can be dangerous if you are not adequately prepared. Shivering and feeling cold or numb are warning signs that the body is losing too much heat.

Children are at greater risk as they have a smaller body mass. Extra care must be taken to ensure that their clothes are as dry and as many layered as possible.

A water proof hat is essential as children lose heat through their heads and scalp much quicker than adults. Ears are at great risk from frostbite.

Simple ways to prevent frostbite include:

  • Avoid prolonged exposure to cold weather.
  • Several layers of clothing hold body heat more efficiently than just one bulky layer.
  • A weatherproof outer layer keeps the body dry.
  • Use gloves, scarves and socks. Carry spares in case the ones you are wearing get wet.
  • Insulated boots.
  • Warm headgear, since considerable body heat is lost through the scalp.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Eat regularly.
  • Keep your eye on the exact temperature by taking a thermometer with you.
  • Change out of wet clothes straight away.
  • Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine.
  • Check your skin frequently for any signs of frostbite.

Where to get help

  • Your doctor
  • Hospital emergency department
  • In an emergency, call triple zero (000)

Things to remember

  • Frostbite occurs when skin tissue freezes after exposure to cold weather.
  • The extremities, such as the hands and feet, are at greater risk because they are more susceptible to heat loss.
  • Symptoms of frostbite include cold, hard and white skin, and numbness.

Frostbite – Student Health and Wellness Services

What is it?

Frostbite is the freezing of bodily tissues due to excessive exposure to cold conditions. Such conditions include not only severe temperatures, but also milder temperatures aggravated by factors such as wind, rain, dampness, dehydration, lack of energy (i.e., food), and illness.

It occurs in varying severity, from frostnip (the commonly seen white patches on noses, ears, cheeks, fingertips and toes; the skin is still pliable at this point, as no tissue has actually frozen yet), to mild and severe frostbite.

Frostbite (as distinct from frostnip) is when the tissues actually begin to freeze. Mild frostbite involves only the outermost layer of tissues (characterized by a hard, white appearance), while severe frostbite freezes right through to the bone, making tissues black or even gangrenous.

Most frostbitten tissues will blister, except for the most severely damaged ones. If left untreated, the hard, white tissue of mildly frostbitten tissues will become red, then mottled purple; within 24-36 hours, blisters will fill with fluid. Blackening of the affected tissues may take up to 10 days to appear.

Treatment

The sooner frostbitten tissues are attended to, the better their chance of surviving intact. If left too long without treatment (or if allowed to refreeze after thawing), frostbitten tissues will be permanently lost.

Frostnip is easily treated by placing a warm body part — either your hand or someone else’s — directly onto the affected area until skin warms up again.

Frostbite requires more specialized attention. Frostbitten tissues should be immediately warmed, except when there is danger of refreezing. A frostbitten tissue, if thawed and then subsequently frostbitten (in the near future), will turn gangrenous and be lost 100% of the time. When there is no such danger, however, the affected areas should be placed in a water bath of a temperature no greater than 105°F (be sure to use a thermometer), since frostbitten tissues can burn more easily than other tissues. Do not rub the affected areas. The water temperature should be maintained by refilling with warm/hot water as the old water cools, always checking the temperature before placing the frostbitten tissues into the bath.

The process of rewarming is extremely painful; the tissues will not hurt at all until they are rewarmed, but once they begin to thaw, the pain is intense. Therefore, pain medication may be required to help alleviate pain until the process is complete. Thawing is complete when all the pallor of an affected area is gone.

A frostbite patient should also be given warm fluids and fast-energy foods to help restore heat and body energy. A blanked around the body core is helpful, even when the extremities are the affected areas. All wet clothing should be removed and replaced with warm, dry clothing.

In severe cases, get the patient to the nearest hospital or emergency health care unit as soon as possible.

Prevention

Frostbite can be easily prevented. Here are some tips to protect yourself from it:

  • Dress for the weather, using many layers and non-cotton/polypropylene in cold areas where you will be active. Wear wool in damp climates, and be sure to have dry clothes available.
  • Stay hydrated and make sure you’ve eaten enough.
  • When your feet are cold, put on your hat.” 70% of body heat is lost through the head.
  • Tissues that have been frostbitten before are more susceptible to it in the future.
  • Stay smart, travel in groups in the cold, and keep an eye on each other.

At What Temperatures Can You Get Frostbite or Hypothermia

Flickr/ChesapeakeClimate

This weekend, parts of the Northeast could experience some of the coldest temperatures the region has seen in the past 20 years. The National Weather Service predicts temperatures below freezing for Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, and other hubs along the East coast.

Simple temperature isn’t the only thing that matters though. Brave adventurers (or those forced to leave their homes) should consider wind chill — the temperature it “feels like” outside based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin, according to the National Weather Service.

Fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose are the areas most susceptible to frostbite. Your body works hard to keep internal organs and your head warm, and sometimes extremities get left behind.

Usually, when parts of your body get too cold, they turn red and hurt. Symptoms of frostbite, however, include a loss of feeling and lack of color. Anyone showing signs of hypothermia or frost bite should seek medical attention immediately.

The chart below shows how long you can be exposed to certain temperatures before resulting in frostbite.

National Weather Service

For example, a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit and a wind speed of 15 mph creates a wind chill temperature of -19 degrees Fahrenheit. Under these conditions frost bite can occur in just 30 minutes. With windchill, some areas on the Northeast could reach temperatures as low as -35 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service, which has issued “wind chill watches” for certain locations. At that temperature, frostbite can occur in as little as 10 minutes.

You can, however, survive a winter scenario like this. Check out these tips — like wearing mittens instead of gloves.

Extremely cold temperature can also cause hypothermia, when the body’s temperature dips below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and obvious exhaustion, according to the NWS.

Surprisingly, hypothermia can occur at any temperature lower than normal body temperature. Factors like body fat, age, alcohol consumption, and especially wetness can affect how long hypothermia takes to strike.

If you fall into water, the situation becomes drastically more dangerous.

For example, in water 32.5 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, you might not survive more than 15-to-45 minutes. You’ll undergo shock within the first two minutes and some functional disability before 30 minutes, according to the United States Coast Guard.

Check out this chart from the Personal Floatation Device Manufacturers Association:

Personal Floatation Device Manufacturer’s Association

Frostbite – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

Frostbite includes both reversible and irreversible tissue damage. Two mechanisms are responsible for this tissue damage: (1) direct cellular damage, and (2) indirect cellular damage with progressive dermal ischemia. Direct cellular damage results when exposure to the cold freezes the tissues, leading to the formation of both intracellular and extracellular ice crystals. Ice crystal formation leads to cell dehydration and shrinkage, abnormal intracellular electrolyte concentrations, and lipid-protein denaturation. Indirect cellular damage results from progressive microvascular insults with initial cycles of vasoconstriction and vasodilatation, followed by a progressive thrombosis. Microthrombi produce tissue ischemia with resulting local metabolic acidosis, endothelial cell injury, inflammatory mediator release, and edema. The tissue edema further reduces blood flow, creating more thrombosis leading to a spiraling effect. If the process is not interrupted in time, necrosis and tissue losses occur.

A.

In the patient’s history, determine the circumstances of the injury. Factors that predispose a person to injury include poor circulation caused by previous cold injury, constrictive clothing, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, hypothermia, diseases of the blood vessels, immobility, and developmental delay. Wind-chill contributes markedly to frostbite.

B.

In the initial physical examination, most injuries appear similar, making it difficult to determine the severity until after rewarming. The extent of the freezing and tissue loss may not be apparent for 4 to 5 days. Frostbite injuries can be classified as either superficial or deep. Superficial injuries may appear as either a numb central white plaque with surrounding erythema, or as blisters filled with clear or milky fluid with surrounding erythema and edema. Deep frostbite injuries are characterized by either hemorrhagic blisters that develop into a black eschar in 2 weeks or by complete tissue loss and necrosis. Final tissue demarcation may take 3 to 4 weeks to establish. Note the appearance of the skin, sensation to pinprick, and whether the vesicles are clear or hemorrhagic. Identify signs of dehydration, hypothermia, altitude effects (pulmonary edema), and exhaustion.

C.

During transport, replace wet clothing with dry, loose clothing followed by padding and splinting. Do not allow the affected area to thaw and refreeze. Once at a medical facility, initially treat systemic hypothermia to a temperature of at least 34°C. Systemic effects may include arrhythmias, depressed cardiac output, hypoventilation with hypoxia and acidosis, decreased mentation, and altered coagulation system. After systemic effects are treated, the focus is on rapidly rewarming the frostbite areas in warm water at the specific range of 40°C to 42°C (104–108°F) for 15 to 30 minutes until thawing is complete (skin becomes red/purple in appearance with pliable texture). Do not massage the area. Do not initiate thawing if there is a chance of the area refreezing.

D.

Post-thaw care begins with débridement of clear or white blisters, leaving hemorrhagic blisters intact. Apply topical aloe vera every 6 hours on any affected areas. Elevate the affected areas with splinting as feasible to reduce edema. Administer tetanus prophylaxis as indicated. Adequate analgesia is important. Administer opiates such as morphine or meperidine intravenously (IV) or intramuscularly (IM). All patients should receive ibuprofen or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent to reduce inflammation. Adjunctive therapies for extensive injuries require subspecialist involvement. These therapies may include volume expanders (low-molecular-weight dextran), anticoagulation (heparin, aspirin), vasodilators (Priscoline [generic name: tolazoline], pentoxifylline, reserpine), hyperbaric oxygen, and thrombolytic enzymes (streptokinase, tissue plasminogen activator). Some evidence exists that the use of tissue plasminogen activator and heparin after rapid rewarming is safe and reduced considerably the predicted digit amputation rate. Otherwise, only limited animal studies support these adjunctive therapies.

E.

Daily hydrotherapy for 30 to 45 minutes at 40°C aids débridement of devitalized tissue and aids in range of motion. Monitor the injury closely for signs of infection. The use of prophylactic antibiotics is unclear. Surgical treatment is normally reserved for late treatment of frostbite. Only fasciotomy/escharotomy may be needed early on to treat a compartment syndrome and ischemia. Amputation is not performed until the tissue ischemia is complete and final demarcation occurs (over 1–3 months). The use of angiography, technetium scintigraphy, or magnetic resonance imaging/angiography may allow for earlier assessment of the tissue viability and encourage earlier surgical involvement such as tissue graft coverage over injured deeper tissues (bone and tendon).

F.

Late sequelae of frostbite include infection, increased cold sensitivity, increased tissue sweating, numbness, abnormalities of the nails, joint stiffness, and premature closure of physeal growth plate.

90,000 Frostbite – signs, first aid and prevention

A real winter has come to us and of course it will not do without thirty-degree and below frosts. Unfortunately, in such conditions, many people become susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite, which can have very serious health consequences. How to correctly recognize the signs of frostbite, protect yourself from hypothermia and provide first aid – read this article.

What is frostbite

Frostbite is damage to any part of the body (up to death) under the influence of low temperatures.Most often, frostbite occurs in the cold winter time when the ambient temperature is below -10 and -20 degrees. By the way, frostbite can also be obtained at a temperature of about zero degrees, if at the same time the air humidity is increased and a piercing, cold wind blows.

Frostbite in the frost is caused by tight and wet clothes and shoes, physical fatigue, hunger, forced prolonged immobility and uncomfortable position, weakening of the body as a result of previous diseases, sweating of the legs, chronic diseases of the vessels of the lower extremities and the cardiovascular system, severe mechanical damage with blood loss , smoking, alcohol intoxication, etc.

Statistics show that almost all severe frostbite, which led to amputation of limbs, occurred in a state of strong alcoholic intoxication.

Under the influence of cold, complex changes occur in the tissues, the nature of which depends on the level and duration of the decrease in temperature. When exposed to temperatures below -30 degrees C, the damaging effect of cold directly on the tissue is of primary importance in frostbite, and cell death occurs. When exposed to temperatures up to -10 and -20 degrees C, at which most frostbite occurs, vascular changes in the form of a spasm of the smallest blood vessels are of prime importance.As a result, the blood flow slows down, the action of tissue enzymes stops.

Signs of frostbite and general hypothermia:

  • the skin is pale bluish;
  • temperature, tactile and pain sensitivity are absent or sharply reduced;
  • when warming up, severe pain, redness and swelling of soft tissues appear;
  • with deeper damage after 12-24 hours.blisters with bloody contents may appear;
  • with general hypothermia, a person is lethargic, indifferent to the environment, his skin is pale, cold, pulse is frequent, blood pressure is low, body temperature is below 36 degrees.

There are several degrees of frostbite:

Grade 1 frostbite (most mild) usually occurs with short exposure to cold. The affected area of ​​the skin is pale, reddened after warming, in some cases has a purple-red tint; edema develops.Skin death does not occur.

Frostbite degree 2 occurs with prolonged exposure to cold. In the initial period, paleness appears, the skin becomes cold, sensitivity is lost, but these phenomena are observed with all degrees of frostbite. Therefore, the most characteristic feature is the formation of bubbles filled with transparent contents in the first days after injury. Complete restoration of the integrity of the skin occurs within 1-2 weeks, granulation and scars are not formed.

With frostbite of 3 degrees , the duration of the period of cold exposure and a decrease in temperature in the tissues increases. The bubbles formed in the initial period are filled with bloody contents, their bottom is blue-purple, insensitive to irritation. All skin elements die with the development of granulations and scars as a result of frostbite. Loose nails do not grow back or grow deformed. The rejection of dead tissue ends in the 2-3rd week, after which scarring occurs, which lasts up to 1 month.The intensity and duration of pain is more pronounced than with degree 2 frostbite.

Frostbite 4th degree occurs with prolonged exposure to cold, the decrease in temperature in the tissues with it is greatest. It is often combined with frostbite of 3 and even 2 degrees. All layers of soft tissues die, bones and joints are often affected.

The damaged part of the limb is strongly cyanotic, sometimes with a marble color. The edema develops immediately after rewarming and increases rapidly.Blisters develop in less frostbite areas where there is grade 3–2 frostbite. The absence of blisters with significantly developing edema, loss of sensitivity indicates frostbite of the 4th degree.

First aid for frostbite

First of all, it is necessary to warm the victim in a warm room. Warming of the affected part of the body should be gradual, slow, mostly passive. It is unacceptable to rub the frostbitten parts of the body with your hands, tissues, alcohol, and even more so with snow! (Such recipes are extremely tenacious and are still common among the people.) The fact is that these measures contribute to thrombus formation in the vessels, deepening the processes of destruction of the affected tissues.

The victim should be wrapped in a warm blanket (in case of general hypothermia) or (in case of frostbite) apply a heat-insulating cotton-gauze bandage (7 layers) to the affected part of the body. The use of a heat-insulating bandage allows several times to slow down the external warming of the affected area while ensuring general warming of the body.

If an arm or a leg is frostbitten, it can be warmed in a bath, gradually increasing the temperature of the water from 20 to 40 degrees and gently (!) Massaging the limb for 40 minutes.The victim is given a generous warm drink such as sweet tea.

If rewarming after frostbite is accompanied by moderate pain (the victim gradually calms down), sensitivity, temperature and color of the skin, independent full-fledged movements are restored, then the limb is wiped dry, the skin is treated with 70% alcohol (or vodka) and a dry bandage with cotton wool is applied. The ear, nose or cheek is generously lubricated with petroleum jelly and a dry warming bandage with cotton wool is applied.

Prevention of hypothermia and frostbite

There are some simple rules that will allow you to avoid hypothermia and frostbite in severe frost:

  • Don’t drink alcohol – alcohol intoxication causes a lot of heat loss.
  • Do not smoke in the cold – smoking reduces peripheral blood circulation and thus makes the limbs more vulnerable.
  • Wear loose clothing to promote normal blood circulation.Dress like a “cabbage” – there are always layers of air between the layers of clothing, which perfectly retain heat.
  • Tight shoes, lack of insoles, damp, dirty socks are often the main prerequisites for the appearance of scuffs and frostbite.
  • Do not go out into the cold without mittens, a hat and a scarf. In windy cold weather, before going outside, lubricate the open areas of the body with a special cream.
  • Before going out into the cold, you need to eat.

Finally, remember that the best way to get out of an embarrassing situation is to stay out of it. In severe frost, try not to leave the house unless absolutely necessary.

90,000 Frostbite: degrees, first aid, prevention – News – Patients

Frostbite is damage to any part of the body (up to death) caused by exposure to low temperatures. If you stay outdoors for a long time, especially in high humidity and strong winds, frostbite can occur in autumn and spring when the air temperature is above freezing.
Frostbite in the frost leads to tight and wet clothes and shoes, physical fatigue, hunger, forced prolonged immobility and uncomfortable position, previous cold injury, weakening of the body as a result of previous diseases, sweating of the legs, chronic diseases of the vessels of the lower extremities and the cardiovascular system, severe mechanical damage with blood loss, smoking, etc.

Statistics show that almost all severe frostbite, which led to amputation of limbs, occurred in a state of strong alcoholic intoxication.
Under the influence of cold, complex changes occur in the tissues, the nature of which depends on the level and duration of the decrease in temperature. When exposed to temperatures below -30 degrees C, the damaging effect of cold directly on the tissue is of primary importance in frostbite, and cell death occurs. When exposed to temperatures up to -10–20 degrees C, at which most frostbite occurs, vascular changes in the form of a spasm of the smallest blood vessels are of prime importance. As a result, the blood flow slows down, the action of tissue enzymes stops.

Signs of frostbite and general hypothermia:
– pale cyanotic skin;
– temperature, tactile and pain sensitivity are absent or sharply reduced;
– when warming up, severe pain, redness and swelling of soft tissues appear;
– with deeper damage after 12-24 hours, blisters with bloody contents may appear;
– with general hypothermia, a person is lethargic, indifferent to the environment, his skin is pale, cold, pulse is frequent, blood pressure is low, body temperature is below 36 ° C

There are several degrees of frostbite:

I degree frostbite (the mildest) usually occurs with short exposure to cold.The affected area of ​​the skin is pale, reddened after warming, in some cases has a purple-red tint; edema develops. Skin death does not occur. By the end of the week after frostbite, slight peeling of the skin is sometimes observed. Full recovery occurs 5-7 days after frostbite. The first signs of such frostbite are a burning sensation, tingling sensation, followed by numbness of the affected area. Then skin itching and pain appear, which can be both minor and pronounced.

Second degree frostbite occurs with prolonged exposure to cold. In the initial period, paleness appears, the skin becomes cold, sensitivity is lost, but these phenomena are observed with all degrees of frostbite. Therefore, the most characteristic feature is the formation of bubbles filled with transparent contents in the first days after injury. Complete restoration of the integrity of the skin occurs within 1-2 weeks, granulation and scars are not formed.With frostbite of the II degree after warming up, the pain is more intense and longer than with frostbite of the I degree, itching and burning are disturbed.

With frostbite III degree, the duration of the period of cold exposure and decrease in temperature in the tissues increases. The bubbles formed in the initial period are filled with bloody contents, their bottom is blue-purple, insensitive to irritation. All skin elements die with the development of granulations and scars as a result of frostbite.Loose nails do not grow back or grow deformed. The rejection of dead tissue ends at 2-3 weeks, after which scarring occurs, which lasts up to 1 month. The intensity and duration of pain is more pronounced than with II degree frostbite.

Frostbite IV degree occurs with prolonged exposure to cold, the decrease in temperature in the tissues with it is greatest. It is often combined with frostbite of III and even II degree.All layers of soft tissues die, bones and joints are often affected.
The damaged part of the limb is strongly cyanotic, sometimes with a marble color. Edema develops immediately after rewarming and increases rapidly. The temperature of the skin is significantly lower than that of the tissues surrounding the frostbite site. Blisters develop in less frostbite areas where there is grade III – II frostbite. The absence of blisters with significantly developed edema, loss of sensitivity indicate frostbite of the IV degree.

In conditions of prolonged stay at low air temperatures, not only local lesions are possible, but also general cooling of the body. General cooling of the body should be understood as a condition that occurs when the body temperature drops below 34 degrees C.

First aid for frostbite

First of all, it is necessary to warm the victim in a warm room. Warming of the affected part of the body should be gradual, slow, mostly passive.It is unacceptable (!) To rub the frostbitten parts of the body with your hands, tissues, alcohol, and even more so with snow! (Such recipes are extremely tenacious and are still common among the people.) The fact is that these measures promote thrombus formation in the vessels, deepening the processes of destruction of the affected tissues.
The victim should be wrapped in a warm blanket (in case of general hypothermia) or (in case of frostbite) apply a heat-insulating cotton-gauze bandage (7 layers) to the affected part of the body to accumulate heat and prevent premature warming of surface tissues (and, accordingly, the formation of a temperature difference between the surface and deep tissues).The use of a heat-insulating bandage allows several times to slow down the external warming of the affected area while ensuring general warming of the body.
If an arm or a leg is frostbitten, it can be warmed in a bath by gradually increasing the temperature of the water from 20 to 40 ° C and gently (!) Massaging the limb for 40 minutes. You can additionally put a warm heating pad on the inner surface of the thigh or shoulder. The victim is given an abundant warm drink – for example, sweet tea.

Prevention of hypothermia and frostbite

There are a few simple rules that will help you avoid hypothermia and frostbite in severe frost:
– Do not drink alcohol – alcohol intoxication causes a lot of heat loss.An additional factor is the inability to focus on the signs of frostbite.
– Do not smoke in the cold – smoking reduces peripheral blood circulation and thus makes the limbs more vulnerable.
– Wear loose clothing to promote normal blood circulation. Dress like a “cabbage” – there are always layers of air between the layers of clothing, which perfectly retain heat.
– Tight shoes, lack of insoles, damp, dirty socks are often the main prerequisites for the appearance of scuffs and frostbite.Particular attention should be paid to shoes for those who often sweat feet. You need to put warm insoles in your boots, and instead of cotton socks, wear woolen socks – they absorb moisture, leaving your feet dry.
– Do not go out into the cold without mittens, a hat and a scarf. The best option is mittens made of moisture-repellent and windproof fabric with fur inside. Gloves made of natural materials, although comfortable, do not save you from frost. The cheeks and chin can be protected with a scarf. In windy cold weather, before going outside, lubricate the open areas of the body with a special cream.
– Do not wear metal (including gold, silver) jewelry in the cold.
– Use a friend’s help: Watch your friend’s face, especially ears, nose, and cheeks, for any noticeable changes in color, while he or she will follow yours.
– Do not remove your shoes from frostbitten limbs in the cold – they will swell and you will not be able to put your shoes back on. It is necessary to reach a warm room as soon as possible. If your hands are frozen, try to warm them up under your armpits.
– When you return home after a long walk in the cold, be sure to make sure that there are no frostbite of the limbs, back, ears, nose, etc.d.
– As soon as you feel hypothermia or freezing of the extremities during a walk, you need to go to any warm place as soon as possible – a store, a cafe, an entrance – to warm up and inspect places potentially vulnerable to frostbite.
– Hide from the wind – the likelihood of frostbite in the wind is much higher.
– Do not wet your skin – water conducts heat much better than air. Don’t go out in the cold with damp hair after a shower. Wet clothes and shoes (for example, a person has fallen into the water) must be removed, the water wiped off, if possible, put on dry and the person must be brought to the warmth as soon as possible.In the forest, it is necessary to light a fire, undress and dry clothes, during this time vigorously exercising and basking by the fire.
– You need to eat before going out into the cold.
– Children and the elderly are more prone to hypothermia and frostbite. Letting your child go outside in the cold, remember that it is advisable for him to return to a warm room every 15-20 minutes and keep warm.
At the first sign of frostbite, contact your nearest emergency room.

First aid for frostbite – City polyclinic No. 2 of the Moscow Department of Healthcare GBUZ “GP No. 2 DZM”, official website

Moscow draws attention to the need for competent help with hypothermia.

Cold injury

When a person stays in the open air for a long time or without moving, there is a risk of cold injury. This is what doctors call general hypothermia or frostbite of the extremities (for example, arms or legs). Factors affecting the risk of their occurrence are wet or tight shoes, light clothing, lack of a headdress, scarf, fatigue, hunger.The likelihood and severity of cold injury depends on a number of additional factors that increase heat loss: air movement (strong, squall wind, blizzard), the presence of vascular diseases, neuritis, previous frostbite, previous infectious diseases.

The majority of cold injuries are suffered by people under the influence of alcohol.

With a general cold injury, a person feels a chill, breathing and pulse become more frequent, blood pressure rises slightly, and goose bumps appear.If a person has been in the cold for a long time, his coordination of movements may be disturbed, consciousness confused, and convulsions may occur. In this case, you must immediately call a doctor.

Doctors advise

The most important thing in case of hypothermia is to restore normal body temperature: go to a warm room, put on dry clothes, if possible, lie under a warm blanket. It is very important to keep your head covered, as 30% of the heat transfer occurs through it.

External heat sources (eg electric blankets) can be used.Only the chest should be warmed, otherwise complications are possible.

A hot drink is essential. You can take a warm bath, but you need to heat the water in it gradually. Starting from a temperature of + 28 °, it is brought to a body temperature of + 34-36 °. You can also gently rub the body with a soft washcloth, which helps restore vascular tone and reflex activity. The head and neck should be raised.

With a slight degree of general cooling, it may be enough to move into a warm room and warm up.

Frostbite of hands, feet, ears, nose

According to doctors, the number of frostbite increases not with a severe frost of -20 degrees, but with temperature fluctuations.

Most often, the legs suffer from the cold, namely the feet, in second place are the hands, then the nose, ears, and cheeks. The first manifestation of local frostbite is easy to miss. A person’s skin temperature drops, it turns pale, loses sensitivity, tingling or burning can be felt.

Doctors advise

Just as with general cold injury, with frostbite, a person should be helped to warm up.Go to a calm, warm place, take off your wet clothes, cover yourself with a blanket and drink hot water or tea. Not alcohol at all! You can warm the frostbitten area with the help of heat-insulating materials, for example, cotton-gauze dressings with a layer of compress paper or plastic wrap. You can also use a blanket or foam.

A warm bath will also help. In case of local frostbite, the water in it must be warmed gradually, starting from a temperature of + 17-18 ° C. This is due to the fact that at an ambient temperature below + 15 ° C, the body begins to lose heat, and at higher temperatures, it begins to warm up.Then, for about an hour, the water is heated to + 36-37 ° C, without bringing it to the overheating temperature. Simultaneously, a light massage is carried out from the periphery to the center. Rubbing with ice and snow is not recommended due to additional mechanical injury and unnecessary cooling.

If the skin warms up during warming, sensitivity is restored, this means that the cold injury is not deep (superficial). Pain and numbness after rewarming are more common in deep frostbite.In these cases, you must immediately consult a doctor.

90,000 Frostbite! Signs and first aid.

01/22/2018

Frostbite! Signs and first aid.

Frostbite is damage to body tissues caused by exposure to low temperatures. Often, frostbite is accompanied by general hypothermia of the body and especially often affects protruding parts of the body, such as the ears, nose, insufficiently protected limbs, especially the fingers and toes.

Signs and symptoms of frostbite:

1st degree . If you get mild frostbite, the signs of it are a feeling of slight tingling, burning, numbness of the skin. The skin in the affected areas turns pale, after warming it, a slight edema appears, which has a purple-red tint, then peeling begins. Typically, the skin is restored within a week, leaving no other marks.

2nd degree .In this case, signs of frostbite of the extremities, in addition to redness, peeling of the skin, include blisters containing a clear liquid. When warming up, a person experiences painful sensations, itching. Full recovery takes up to 2 weeks.

3rd degree . A sign of grade 3 frostbite is the appearance of blisters, with a bloody filling, such frostbite often ends in necrosis. The restoration of the skin is long, sometimes it takes a month or more, and ends with the formation of scars.

4th degree . Frostbite affects all layers of soft tissues, is characterized by pronounced edema, loss of sensitivity, often ends in necrosis, tissue necrosis. According to statistics, frostbite of the 4th degree is the cause of amputation of the limbs.

First aid for frostbite :

If you suspect frostbite, you should seek qualified medical help. Early treatment reduces the severity of the consequences.

First aid actions differ depending on the degree of frostbite, the presence of general cooling of the body, age and concomitant diseases.

First aid consists of stopping cooling, warming the extremities, restoring blood circulation in tissues affected by cold, and preventing the development of infection. The first thing to do in case of signs of frostbite is to deliver the victim to the nearest warm room.Simultaneously with the first aid measures, it is necessary to urgently call a doctor, an ambulance to provide medical assistance.

In case of frostbite of the 1st degree, the cooled areas should be warmed until reddening with warm hands, light massage, rubbing with a woolen cloth, breathing, and then apply a cotton-gauze bandage.

In case of frostbite of II-IV degrees, rapid warming, massage or rubbing should not be done. Apply a heat-insulating bandage to the affected surface (a layer of gauze, a thick layer of cotton wool, again a layer of gauze, and on top of an oilcloth or rubberized cloth).

It is not recommended to rub patients with snow, since the blood vessels of the hands and feet are very fragile and therefore may be damaged, and the resulting micro-abrasions on the skin contribute to the introduction of infection. Do not use rapid rewarming of frostbite limbs by the fire, use heating pads and similar sources of heat uncontrollably, as this aggravates the course of frostbite. An unacceptable and ineffective first aid option is rubbing oils, fat, rubbing tissues with alcohol with deep frostbite.

When going for a long walk in the cold, put on several layers of clothing. Before going out, you need to eat a large meal, the body will need a lot of energy to fight the cold. “Warming up” with alcohol can lead to serious consequences, as it gives only the illusion of warmth and disrupts adequate perception. Most frostbite leading to amputation of limbs occurs in a state of alcoholic intoxication. When your limbs feel cold, warm yourself up in any warm room.An already frostbitten place cannot be re-frozen – the injury will be much more serious.

Attention, frostbite! Medical advice

Cases of frostbite have been recorded in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Monitoring by the Disaster Medicine Center has been conducted since 01.10.2019. As of November 27, 140 people have applied for medical help in the region, five of them are children. 54 people from Krasnoyarsk. 56 people received inpatient care.First of all, we are talking about the northern territories of the region, but it should be remembered that you can get frostbite not only at minus 35 degrees, but also with a slight frost.

Recall that over the past winter period (from October 1, 2018 to February 10, 2019) in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, 1,267 people applied for medical help with frostbite or hypothermia, of which 78 are children. 731 people from among those who applied were sent for outpatient treatment, another 521 were hospitalized in medical institutions.

Doctor’s recommendations:

When we start to freeze, vascular spasms occur, they begin to narrow and become clogged with blood clots. As a result, at first, blood flow in a certain part of the body worsens, and then completely stops. This leads to the fact that it ceases to receive blood, becomes numb, ceases to function, goes into a state preceding gangrene. In turn, gangrene is fraught with amputation of the limbs, which happens with severe frostbite and in the absence of timely assistance to the victim.The energy consumption of the body in the cold is much higher than in warm conditions. When a person is hungry, he produces less energy. Also, frostbite can be provoked by the uncomfortable position in which the fishermen sit (and in winter they are often on the reservoir). Well, the general state of health, chronic vascular disease. Smoking accelerates this process, in which vasospasm occurs, or injury with blood loss, since blood is an energy carrier, that is, it transfers heat. Frostbite can occur, I repeat, at a slight minus temperature, especially if a long stay in the open air is accompanied by strong wind and high humidity.Also, wet tight clothes and shoes, physical fatigue, hunger lead to frostbite.

Frostbite degree

  • I degree. The lightest, in which the affected tissue does not die off. The skin turns pale or takes on a purple hue. The person feels a burning sensation and tingling sensation. Then the affected areas go numb. After giving first aid, they begin to itch and hurt. Usually, people with first degree frostbite recover no later than a week, depending on the area of ​​frostbite.
  • II degree. Occurs with longer exposure to cold. In this case, more severe consequences are manifested than in degree I. 1–2 days after frostbite, blisters with a clear liquid appear on the skin. With proper treatment, recovery occurs within two weeks. In addition to a longer recovery period, with grade II pain is stronger.
  • III degree. If a person has been in the cold for a long time and the tissues have received intense cold exposure, the consequences may be irreversible.Blisters appear on the skin, but not with a transparent content, but with a bloody fluid. All elements of the skin perish, the nails come off the fingers. As a result, within three weeks, the skin on the affected areas is torn away, and scars appear instead, and the nails either grow back with deformities or do not grow back at all. Skin scarring can last up to a month.
  • IV degree. The hardest. In this case, tissue death occurs. However, the IV degree is terrible not only for dead skin, in especially serious cases, damage to the bones and joints is observed, gangrene can develop.The consequences of such frostbite are irreversible, and in such cases the injured limbs are amputated.

First aid

The categories of people most susceptible to frostbite are fishermen and drivers. First of all, you need to bring a person from the cold to the warmth and give warm sweet tea. Further assistance depends on the degree of damage to the body. It is desirable that the victim breathes warm air. To do this, you can sit him near the heating battery or direct a hairdryer at him.Thus, blood is warmed faster, and not tissues (skin). Be sure to give an aspirin pill.

Absolutely not!

Many, having frostbitten hands, noses, ears, begin to remember folk ways of helping. But some of them are contraindicated. Alcohol, contrary to rumors, does not relieve frostbite. According to statistics, almost all severe frostbite that led to limb amputation occurred when a person was intoxicated.

Don’t:

Rub the affected area with mittens, alcohol, oil.

Such rubbing will only aggravate the condition of the affected area and further damage the skin. Moreover, some try to rub the affected part of the body with a warming ointment or alcohol, this can lead to thermal burns.

Apply cold to the affected area.

Many people make this mistake by rubbing frostbitten body parts with snow, ice and cold objects. With this “help”, frostbite will continue.

Apply hot.

A sudden change in temperature will lead to a thermal burn. The same goes for warming frozen limbs in close proximity to a fire or battery. The “principle of the opposite” is irrelevant here.

Doctor’s advice:

  • Going into nature, observe the “principle of cabbage” when collecting: dress warmly and in layers. Clothes and shoes should not be small, there should be an air gap between them.
  • Do not stay in one position for a long time.Be sure to warm up by pumping blood through your body.
  • Don’t drink alcohol. Alcohol intoxication causes a lot of heat loss.
  • Do not smoke in the cold. This reduces peripheral blood circulation and makes the limbs vulnerable.
  • Do not wear gold and silver jewelry in cold weather. First, the metal cools down faster than the body (this makes the product “stick” to the skin). Secondly, the rings on the fingers make it difficult for blood to circulate.
  • Hide from the wind. In the wind, the likelihood of frostbite increases significantly.
  • Do not remove your shoes from frozen feet in the cold. They will swell, and it will be impossible to put on shoes again.

90,000 Help with frostbite. What to do with frostbite?

Frostbite is damage to various parts of the body during prolonged exposure to low temperatures outdoors. In especially severe cases, soft tissues can become dead.Frostbite occurs mainly in winter, when the air temperature drops to –10–20 o C and below. In conditions of high humidity and strong winds, frostbite of the hands or other parts of the body can occur in autumn and spring, even at temperatures above zero. What should be done if you or your loved ones still get frostbite?

Sad statistics show that almost all severe cases occur with people who are intoxicated.Hunger or overwork can also lead to frostbite. The risk group also includes people with pathologies of the immune and cardiovascular systems.

Signs of frostbite

With mild frostbite, there is a low body temperature (up to 32 o C) and chills. “Goose bumps” appear on the body, its color becomes cyanotic. Another sign of mild frostbite is a low heart rate – up to 60 beats per minute.

The average degree of frostbite is characterized by a low body temperature, dropping to 29 o C, depression and deep drowsiness.The skin becomes pale and takes on a marbled shade, not warm to the touch. Plus, breathing and pulse slows down (up to 50 beats per minute).

The most dangerous signs of frostbite appear in severe cases. The person is nauseous, convulsions appear, he may even lose consciousness. The pulse slows down to a critical 36 beats per minute, breathing down to 3-4 breaths per minute. The skin becomes cold and pale with a bluish tinge. In this case, the most severe frostbite of III or IV degree is diagnosed.

Degrees of frostbite

Cold affects tissues in such a way that significant and sometimes irreversible changes begin in them. In particular, spasms of the blood vessels occur, which blocks the blood flow. The severity of these changes depends on the degree of frostbite.

In total, four degrees are distinguished according to the depth of tissue damage:

  • I degree . This is the mildest degree of frostbite, in which the affected tissue does not die off.The skin turns pale or takes on a purple hue. The person feels a burning sensation and tingling sensation. Then the affected areas go numb. After giving first aid, they begin to itch and hurt. Usually, people with first degree frostbite recover no later than a week, depending on the area of ​​frostbite.
  • II degree . Being in the cold for a long time, a person can get II degree frostbite. In this case, with symptoms similar to a milder degree, more severe consequences appear.1–2 days after frostbite, blisters with a clear liquid appear on the skin. With proper treatment, recovery occurs within two weeks. In addition to the longer recovery period, at the II degree, pain is also stronger.
  • III degree . If a person has been in the cold for a long time and the tissues are exposed to intense cold exposure, the consequences may be irreversible. Blisters appear on the skin, but not with a transparent content, but with a bloody fluid.All elements of the skin perish, the nails come off the fingers. As a result, within three weeks, the skin on the affected areas is torn away, and scars appear instead, and the nails either grow back with deformations or do not grow back at all. Skin scarring can last up to a month.
  • IV degree . With an extremely long stay in the cold, a person can get frostbite of the most severe degree. In this case, tissue death occurs. However, the IV degree is terrible not only for dead skin, in especially serious cases, damage to the bones and joints is observed, gangrene can develop.The consequences of such frostbite are irreversible, and in such cases the injured limbs are amputated.

First aid in case of frostbite

The degree of damage determines the provision of aid in case of frostbite. The first step is the same for all degrees: you need to pick up the victim from the cold and place in a warm room. At the lightest degree I, you can warm up the affected areas. This is done by gentle rubbing, massage, or breathing. Then a gauze bandage is applied.Warming helps to restore blood circulation, and the bandage prevents infection from reaching the affected area.

First aid for grade II – IV excludes rapid warming up. If the degree of damage is severe, an ambulance should be called immediately. While the doctors are traveling, instead of warming up, a heat-insulating bandage should be applied, covered with a blanket with foil, which reflects internal heat like a thermos. The bandage can be made of gauze and cotton wool. First, gauze is applied, then cotton wool, and this is repeated several times.Instead of cotton wool, you can use shreds of woolen clothing, sweatshirts, etc. From above, a heat-insulating bandage is wrapped with a rubberized cloth, a scarf or a woolen shawl. Next, you need to fix the frostbitten limbs. For this, any means at hand will do: pieces of boards, cardboard or plywood. They are applied over a heat-insulating bandage and carefully fixed with bandages, taking care not to damage the affected areas.

Help for frostbite, regardless of the degree, includes hot drinks and food.The victims are also advised to give aspirin and analgin, which will dilate the blood vessels and improve blood circulation.

One of the most common mistakes is rubbing with snow. This should not be done under any circumstances! Through the formed microcracks, an infection can get under the skin. It is also not worth making a fire and putting on heating pads: intense heat will only worsen the course of frostbite. Rubbing with oil, fat or alcohol is also contraindicated.

Treatment of frostbite

Treatment of the 1st degree of frostbite involves various therapies aimed at healing the affected areas.In particular, the use of electric light baths and UHF therapy is widespread. If frostbite of the extremities leads to the appearance of ulcers on the skin, dressings with an antiseptic ointment are used.

In case of frostbite of the II degree, bubbles with a transparent liquid are opened. Doctors remove the epidermis and apply an antiseptic dressing. After healing, the patient is sent for physical therapy. To prevent infection, injections of antibiotics of the penicillin group or streptomycin are usually prescribed.

More severe grade III – IV frostbite involves the removal of dead tissue.In especially severe cases, the limbs must be amputated. The treatment, together with the rehabilitation process, can take several months.

First aid for frostbite | Active rest

By ololint

Many alpine skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts have experienced the sensation of frostbite when they do not feel a certain part of the body and the skin on it turns white. Yes, that’s exactly what frostbite is. How to avoid this and what is the first aid for frostbite, if this has already happened? Frostbite is damage to parts of the body when exposed to low temperatures.

There are several degrees of frostbite:

  • First degree – areas of the skin turn pale, and after warming, the skin turns red, the affected area begins to grow numb, loses sensitivity, while itching, pain, burning is possible. The recovery period is 5 to 7 days.
  • Second degree – the symptoms are the same as in the first degree, but after a few days, bubbles are already visible on the affected area. Their healing takes a long time, about two weeks.
  • Third degree – tissue necrosis, blisters fill with dark bloody contents, such injuries heal for almost a month, and after that, scars form at the site of frostbite.
  • Fourth degree – blistering occurs on the least frostbite areas of the skin, and the area of ​​the skin that is frostbite more than others is blue and swells after warming. With frostbite of this degree, all soft tissues are affected, and joints and bones can be damaged.

Cheeks, nose tip, fingers and toes are most often frozen, because all of these places are very sensitive to cold and the blood does not circulate in them enough. A part of the body in a certain situation and at low temperatures does not receive oxygen, and this leads to damage to muscle tissue.

Doctors distinguish between two types of frostbite – superficial and deep. The signs of both are quite painful, and everyone feels them as soon as the nerve begins to freeze .. For this reason, there is an unpleasant sensation of tingling and numbness. If you feel that a certain part of your body is frozen, immediately try to warm it up, or rather go to a warm place.

The frost-bitten area remains soft, but at the same time acquires a yellowish or gray tint of color.Usually, frostbitten fingers are warmed by tucking them under the armpits or under a scarf closer to the chest, then the fingers are warmed even better.

As for deep frostbite, it is very serious, there is frostbite of the hands and feet. If you do not send the victim to the hospital in advance, the option of limb amputation is not excluded. With deep freezing, the limb becomes hard and stiff, blisters appear on the skin and it turns white. Do not rub the frostbite areas with your hands and snow, this can lead to more serious consequences.

In such cases, the patient must be evacuated to the hospital, but there should be no load on the injured limb.

If it is possible to call a helicopter or other equipment, then you need to warm the limb before help arrives. If the arrival of transport is impossible and you need to “walk”. To reduce the harm from the consequences, it is worth leaving the limb “frozen”.

In the event that you provide first aid, then you need to find shelter – it can be a tent or a cave or a place closed from the wind.To provide assistance, it is necessary to melt the snow and warm it to a temperature of 38-42 degrees. You can also warm a frostbitten place with your hands, but this will take a lot of time.

Do not use fire or hot water to warm a frostbitten part of the body, which can “burn” the part of the skin that is frostbitten. When the water cools down, you need to add hot water to it or heat it to the desired temperature. If possible, it is better to use a large saucepan or basin so that the frostbitten limb can be completely laid without the skin touching the edges of the vessel.

During these procedures, to restore blood circulation and “fighting spirit” the victim should be given something warm to drink. After warming, the affected area begins to turn red. In time, this procedure takes 20-30 minutes.

Some blisters on the limbs burst over time, as a result of which liquid flows from them, which must be blotted with cotton wool. Of course, these blisters will hurt, but they should not be scratched, scratched or punctured, as there is a high likelihood of the “patient” getting an infection.

To avoid frostbite, you should wear underwear that removes sweat and keeps you warm. Clothes should not fit snugly to the body. When buying socks, go for woolen socks as they keep warm better. Gloves or mittens should keep your hands warm throughout the day, so choose them carefully. Likewise, be careful when choosing a scarf and helmet, which are also important for keeping you warm. The jacket should in no case let the wind pass through and have a hood, which is needed in case of worsening weather conditions.All these things are best purchased in specialized stores.

If you adhere to these rules, then your limbs, ears, feet, fingers and toes will be in perfect order. Before going on the slope for skiing, it is worth discussing the possibility of an evacuation. Take care of yourself.

How to provide first aid for frostbite?

  • First of all, it is necessary to pick up a person from the cold, that is, the victim must be taken to a warm place, but at the same time, the frostbite part of the body must not be suddenly warmed up.
  • Wet clothing must be removed from the victim, bandages made of material that does not conduct heat well (oilcloth over a cotton-gauze bandage) are applied to the frostbitten areas.
  • Frostbite limbs must be fixed so as not to injure blood vessels. For this purpose, a piece of plywood or cardboard must be bandaged.
  • Give the victim warm tea, warm food, some alcohol, some medications.
  • In case of frostbite of 2-4 degrees, an ambulance is needed.