Frostbite

1
Frostbite
2
What is Frostbite?

• A thermal injury to the skin resulting from
  prolonged exposure to moderate cold or brief
  exposure to extreme cold.
• Ice crystals form in and around skin cells due to
  decreased blood supply
• Typically hands, feet, nose, ears, and cheeks.

3
Signs and Symptoms

• Itching
• Swelling
• Mottled (blotchy) skin
• Hard, glossy, grayish, yellow skin

• Pain
• Numbness
• Prickly sensations
• Firm, whitened skin areas
• Peeling or blistering

4
Frostnip or Frostbite?

• 1st degree Frostnip. Numbness and whitening of
  the skin. Rewarm promptly.
• 2nd degree Superficial frostbite. Outer skin
  hard and frozen but tissue underneath has normal
  resilience.
• 3rd degree Deep frostbite. Skin is white or
  blotchy and blue. Skin and tissue underneath is
  hard and very cold.

5
Prevention

• Keep skin covered
• Stay warm and dry
• NEVER accept numbness

6
Treatment

• PREVENTION
• Gently rewarm with another warm body, warm
  clothing, or lukewarm water
• Keep the injured area warm!
• Wrap blisters or peeling skin with sterile gauze.

7
Treatment No-nos

• DO NOT rewarm frostbite if refreezing is possible
• DO NOT rub
• DO NOT use direct heat