Prolonged exposure to low temperatures may cause frostbite. In most cases, this phenomenon is accompanied by a general hypothermia of the body, which aggravates the situation.
First of all, minimally protected areas are affected – the face, ears, toes and fingers. It is quite natural that most people get frostbite during the cold season. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to be outside for several hours in a row at a very low temperature. If adverse factors coincide, frostbite can be obtained even at a temperature of 0 C. Among the adverse weather factors include: wind; high humidity; low degree of human protection from the cold.
Frostbite stages
There are four degrees of frostbite, each of which has its own obvious symptoms and possible consequences for the body. Knowledge of these stages and methods of providing first aid during their development will be able to save one’s own or someone else’s life.
Grade 1 is the easiest stage of frostbite. A person feels how the skin on open or poorly protected areas of the body becomes numb, then a burning and tingling sensation appears. With the right response to these signs, complications can be prevented. As soon as the first symptoms appear, you need to hide from the cold as soon as possible in a warm and dry room. When exposed to room temperature on frostbitten areas of the body, a slight swelling occurs, and the color of the skin changes to a pronounced crimson. After 2-3 days, peeling appears, which is a sign of activation of the self-healing processes of the epidermis.
2 degree – the first signs of frostbite of this stage are similar to 1 degree. The main difference is that when warming up, not only swelling appears, but also blisters filled with liquid (as with a thermal burn). The patient is shown symptomatic therapy aimed at relieving pain and accelerating the healing process.
Grade 3 – we are talking about prolonged exposure to cold, as a result of which irreversible processes occur. In particular, necrosis of the skin. The most obvious sign is the appearance of blisters filled with fluid mixed with blood. The recovery process is quite long and painful. In 99% of cases, deep scars remain on the skin.
Grade 4 – we are talking about the defeat of not only the layers of the epidermis, but also soft tissues. The affected part of the body swells, acquires a blue-purple edema, there is a complete loss of sensitivity. Frostbite of the hands and feet of the 4th stage is often the reason for their forced amputation.
Main reasons
It is quite natural that the main cause of frostbite is prolonged exposure to cold. But there are factors that increase the risk of frostbite. These include:
- prolonged contact with water or snow, subject to negative air temperatures;
- frost accompanied by strong winds;
- humidity (in this case, we are talking not only about indicators of air humidity, but also about sufficiently damp gloves or socks);
- shoes that are out of season or too tight;
- childhood or old age – due to a violation of the functions of the thermoregulation system, the risk of frostbite increases;
- disorders of the cardiovascular system;
- diseases of the endocrine system, in particular – diabetes mellitus;
- exhaustion of the body against the background of regular malnutrition or lack of sleep;
- alcoholic intoxication.
Another factor influencing susceptibility to cold is heredity. For example, hereditary Eskimos endure long-term exposure to cold almost painlessly, while the body of an African begins to suffer already at a temperature of +10 C.
First aid in case of frostbite
It is important to understand that a person with frostbite will certainly need medical attention, even if it is a mild degree. There is always a risk of complications. First aid is measures aimed at alleviating the patient’s condition until professional assistance is provided.
How to help a person with frostbite? Much here depends on the specific situation, the degree of tissue damage, the age and condition of the victim. The most important condition is to stop exposure to cold. That is, a person needs to be moved to a dry and warm room, free from clothes and shoes that prevent normal blood flow.
Is it possible to rub frostbitten skin with snow? Absolutely not. Such actions will only worsen the condition. You should also refuse to rub the skin with oils and alcohol-containing solutions – if such actions are simply ineffective in mild stages of frostbite, then in severe ones they can cause even more tissue damage.
Rubbing and warming the skin by mechanical action is possible only with 1st degree of frostbite, in all other cases this will lead to deeper injury to the soft tissues.
Quite often, severe frostbite is accompanied by a general hypothermia of the whole organism, against which the blood pressure decreases, the pulse slows down, breathing becomes shallow, and a short-term loss of consciousness is possible. In such situations, it is necessary to try to bring the person to his senses and deliver him to a medical facility as quickly as possible.
How to avoid frostbite
To avoid hypothermia, you should always dress according to the season. One thick sweater can be replaced with two or three thinner ones – a “cushion” of warm air will form between the layers of clothing. Shoes should not be tight, otherwise it will cause compression of the limbs, impaired blood circulation in them and, as a result, frostbite. If you plan a long walk in the park or outside the city, it is advisable to have spare warm mittens, dry socks and insoles with you, which will come to the rescue if necessary.
Hot tea will help keep you warm in the cold. But it is better to refuse alcohol, it is he who is the most common cause of severe frostbite, ending in amputation.