Frostbite

Frostbite may be more likely if:

• There is long exposure to cold
• There’s is exposure to extreme cold
• There is wind chill
• Water is involved (wet clothing)
• Wearing insufficient clothing or tight-fitting cloths and boots
• Preexisting medical conditions (diabetes)

What are the signs and symptoms of frostbite?

Initial phrase of frostbite (if treated quickly, usually recovers)

• Affected parts are cold and firm
• Stinging, burning and numbness can be present
• Pain may be felt
• White and numb skin
• Skin may feel hard and stiff

More severe frostbite (can cause permanent damage)

• Skin feels frozen or “woody”
• There may be swelling of the affected area
• Skin may become purple
• Black thick scabs may form later

Precautions in cold weather

• Put on warm and windproof clothes before you get cold
• Avoid sweating and change damp clothes for dry ones
• Protect your face with scarf or facemask
• Keep your feet dry
• Make sure your footwear is not too tight
• Drink plenty of warm drinks and eat chocolate at regular intervals
• Stop immediately and re-warm, shelter if necessary
• If one person in the group suffers from frostbite, check everyone

How can you help if someone has frostbite?

• Move the person to shelter and keep warm. But do not start rewarming until the person is in a warm place, it can cause irreversible damage.
• Remove any wet clothing and replace with soft and warm clothing.
• Give the person drink and eat
• Call for rescue
• Rewarm the area using body heat or warm water (40-42 °C).
• Do not use direct heat (like heat packs or hot water bottles)
• Do not rub the area
• Apply dressing (dry the affected area and put sterile gauze between fingers and toes).

Source: Mountain First Aid Course of HealthFirst