I'm sure we all realize that prevention is best , however life is not fair and accidents happen either to our selves or loved ones or fellow campers . Going into winter it might be wise to have a refresher from those well informed on procedures for dealing with frost bite PLEASE.
First-aid care Check for hypothermia. Get emergency medical help if you suspect hypothermia. Protect your skin from further exposure. If you're outside, warm frostbitten hands by tucking them into your armpits. Protect your face, nose and ears by covering them with dry, gloved hands. Don't rub the affected area and never rub snow on frostbitten skin. Get out of the cold. Once you're indoors, remove wet clothes. Gently rewarm frostbitten areas. Soak hands or feet in warm water — 99 to 108 F (37 to 42 C) — for 15 to 30 minutes. If a thermometer isn't available, test the water by placing an uninjured hand or elbow in it — it should feel very warm, not hot. Don't rewarm frostbitten skin with direct heat, such as a stove, heat lamp, fireplace or heating pad. These can cause burns. If there's any chance the affected areas will freeze again, don't thaw them. If they're already thawed, wrap them up so that they don't refreeze. Take pain medicine. If you are in pain, take over-the-counter ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) to reduce pain and inflammation. Don't walk on frostbitten feet or toes if possible. This further damages the tissue. Know what to expect as skin thaws. If the skin turns red and you feel tingling and burning as it warms, normal blood flow is returning. But seek emergency medical attention if the numbness or pain remains during warming or if blisters develop. and as the area thaws it will be with excruciating pain. Most common problem here is folks handling cold soaked fuel. A spill of -40F gasoline will freeze skin almost instantly, with the added issues on being a hazard when you go to warm up.....
We were told not to exceed 105. One of the problems is that feeling is NOT there and the victim could be burned and not know it. That is one of the reasons that facilities accessible by the public have water heaters that are limited to 105 by code, since the public can have infirmities that won't react properly to heat.
I always liked the Warm Shower.... Not HOT Shower, but Warm Shower... That was the rest of your skin can tell you that the water is WARM, whether the Frostbitten Area has feeling or NOT...
Knock on wood I've never suffered frost bite. But growing up on a farm my hands got really cold different times. I always ran warm water over them, and although I knew it was only warm it felt like the water was scalding hot.
I have never gotten frost bitten however I have circulation issues with my fore fingers ever since an ice rescue training wearing a gumby suit and the hand portion like a mitten separated the fore finger from the rest . I have known folks that lost didgets from frost bite in some very desperate situations. but that was over 20 years or so ago. DKR thank you very much for the info ,much appreciated.
We don't have much of a problem with frost bite down here. However its always good to tuck this information away, You never know. Plus 1
Anytime frostbite is ever mentioned , it just always brings to mind our Korean War veterans. The few guys I've known that served there , or the history I know from there , like the Chosin Resovoir , these were fighting multiple battles at the same time. Good info on treating frostbite, hopefully I'll never need it.
Here is how to recognize and know to what degree one has frostbite. If you know the degree of your frostbite, it helps with treatment. I have never got past the pins & needles stage, with my finger starting to get hard. Like others said about, slow warmth is how to treat frostbite. Three stages of frostbite are: The first degree - irritates the skin The second degree - blisters but has no major damage The third degree - involves all layers of the skin and causes permanent tissue damage What Are the Symptoms? When it's cold out, exposed skin 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 through 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 it’s important to watch for changes in skin color. Frostbite: How to Spot It, Treat It and Prevent It
