#98 Frostbite (English)

WHAT IS FROSTBITE?

Frostbite is an injury that is caused by exposure of parts of your body to temperatures below freezing point. The cold causes freezing of your skin and underlying tissues. It is most likely to happen in body parts farthest from the heart and with large exposed areas like the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin.
 

WHAT CAUSES FROSTBITE?

As a protective response, when your body is exposed to extreme cold, blood vessels narrow (constrict) so that blood and oxygen are diverted away from your extremities to your vital organs to keep your body alive. After some time, this lack of blood supply and oxygen to certain parts of the skin can start to cause damage to the blood vessels and cells affected. Blood clots can also form in small blood vessels which further reduces the chance of blood and oxygen getting to the affected tissues.

The chance of frostbite is increased the longer that you are exposed to the cold temperatures. If the cold temperatures are accompanied by wind or high altitude there is a greater risk.

FROSTBITE STAGES

1.  Frostnip - skin pales or turns red and feels very cold. Continued exposure leads to prickling and numbness in the affected area. As your skin warms, you may feel pain and tingling. Frostnip doesn't permanently damage the skin.

2. Superficial frostbite - reddened skin that turns white or pale. The skin may remain soft, but some ice crystals may form in the tissue. Your skin may begin to feel warm — a sign of serious skin involvement. If you treat frostbite with rewarming at this stage, the surface of your skin may appear mottled, blue or purple. And you may notice stinging, burning and swelling. A fluid-filled blister may appear 24 to 36 hours after rewarming the skin.

3. Severe (deep) frostbite - all layers of the skin affected, including the tissues that lie below. You may experience numbness, losing all sensation of cold, pain or discomfort in the affected area. Joints or muscles may no longer work. Large blisters form 24 to 48 hours after rewarming. Afterward, the area turns black and hard as the tissue dies.

BASIC FIRST AID FOR FROSTBITE INJURIES

•     Get shelter from the cold.

•     Change wet clothing for dry clothing.

•     Let the area air dry - don't rub the affected area, as this can cause further tissue damage.

•     Remove any jewellery, such as rings on fingers, or other material that could tighten around the area.

•     If your hand or a foot is affected by frostbite, wrap it in a blanket for protection.

•     Avoid walking on frostbitten feet, as fractures can occur as well as chipping of the affected tissue.

•     Protect from any possible re-freezing.

•     Rehydrate

WHO GETS FROSTBITE?

You are more likely to suffer from frostbite if you…

… are a soldier, a homeless person or an outdoor sport enthusiast.

… wear inadequate clothing when exposed to low temperature.

… have underlying health problems such as narrowing of the arteries.

… take certain medicines that narrow (constrict) your blood vessels.

… smoke, as chemicals in cigarettes make your blood vessels constrict.

AVOID GETTING FROSTBITE AS IT CAN BE EXTREMELY PAINFUL!!!

PSB