| |
The best frostbite treatment
is protection
Knowledge about frostbite treatment is important for all travelers in cold winter weather. Frostbite is a dangerous threat because it can give permanent injuries. Not to mention the pain and fear...
* Note that I am not offering medical advice, for that you should consult your physician. *
Decrease in internal body temperature
Frostbite is the actual freezing of the blood vessels and surrounding tissue of a body parts. In the beginning the freezing only affects the skin and small blood vessels. This causes the blood to clump and block the viens. As time progresses this damage can become ireversable and progress to underlying tissues.
Two different grades
Frostbite can be characterized in two basic categories. Partial thickness which if freezing of the top layers of the skin. To full thickness or from the lower dermis layers as far as the bone.
Partial thickness is the most common form of frostbite. The skin once frozen on the upper layers will separate from the under lying tissue layers.
Commonly affected parts of the body
The most common areas that frostbite starts is any exposed skin:
- Ears, nose and cheeks
Second:
- Fingers, toes, feet and hands.
Signs of frostbite
Skin becomes cold, hard and pale waxy, to darkly discolored. You may see blister appear on the skin. Affected joints will become stiff and eventually immobile. If your feet are affected also walking becomes difficult. Other typical frostbite symptoms are burning, tingling and itching sensationsin the affected areas.
Preventing frostbite
Regular check for frostbite. If you are with others, check each others face. Periodically warm your face and ears with your hands. Make faces – it will maintain circulation. Wiggle and move your ears.
Warm your hands by moving them inside your gloves. If not enough, place your hands under your armpits.
Move your feet and wiggle your toes inside your boots. Ask your companion for help - place your feet next to his/hers stomach. The best prevention is to keep your feet dry. If you carry extra socks, put them on.
Seek Medical Care
A person with frostbite needs immediate emergency medical attention. If possible, get the patient to the nearest medical facility.
Start frostbite treatment if no risk of refreezing
Prevent further freezing. Find shelter and warmth. After this is done determine if you are able to get the patient to an area where there is no potential for refreezing. If there is a potential for refreezing do not try to thaw the frostbiten areas.
If there is not a possibility of getting to a medical facility, but you have a safe area where the patient is not at risk of refreezing then you may decided to start treating the frostbite.
Treat the hypothermia first
The first treatment is to treat the
hypothermia
that the patient will be suffering. This is done in several ways. First remove all wet and frozen clothing. Be carefully not to cause any undo skin damage.
Thaw in tepid water
If clothing it frozen to the tissue, remove it as it warms and thaws. Keep affected areas as clean as possible to prevent increased risk of infection down the line. You can submerge the body parts in tepid water between the temps of 104-108 F (40 - 42 C). This water will cool quickly so you will have to change it often.
Do not submerge a body part in water warmer than that due to risk of burning body part, thawing to quickly, or may cause increased pain and even shock.
Increase body temperature
Have the patient drink warm fluids slowly to increase the core temperature.
If you have enough people you can practice a technique called buddy warming. Which is getting skin to skin with the cold injury person. Remember to not allow the warming buddy to remain skin to skin for more than 5 minutes, or if they starts to shiver. Which ever may come first.
After the thawing
If at all possible elevate the frostbiten parts above the heart. This will aid with the swelling that has taken place and will increase as the tissue thaws.
Remember when drying the frostbitten areas to pat dry. DO NOT RUB, because rubbing will cause more damage.
You may see more blisters appear as the area is thawing. This is not uncommon. They may appear pink to purple/ black in color. DO NOT POP. By leaving them intact you will decrease the chance for infection.
Use your first aid kit
Apply a dry loose sterile dressing to the affected areas. Make sure the dressings are not tight. You will have to continuesly check the dressing for fit, because of subsequent swelling that will occur.
You want to avoid give the patient any alcohol or medications. The only exception to this is you may give morphine for the edema, and to control pain. It is also recommended that you give asprine if it is not a child. Because asprine will help to decrease pain and thins the blood.
The blood that was frozen may start to move through the system as blood clots. Asprine will help to thin the blood as it thaws. Decreasing the risk of passing a blood clot to your lungs. Which is potentially dangerous and life threatening.
Frostbite treatment remembers
Never thaw if chance of refreezing
Do not rub affected areas
Warm slowly
Be ware of getting to close to external heat sources for fear of burning already damaged tissue.
Never pop blisters.
Apply a dry loose sterile dressing, and check for fit often
TREAT FOR HYPOTHERMIA FIRST
Use asprine for pain and to decrease chances of blood clots.
THE BEST FROSTBITE TREATMENT IS PROTECTION.
Return from "...frostbite treatment..."
to "Wilderness first aid"
Back to: Wilderness survival skills homepage
|
