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Signs of frostbite and help with frostbite. Video
The most common cause of frostbite is exposure to low temperatures on exposed areas of the body. If this is combined with additional negative factors (strong gusts of wind or humidity), the damage can be more serious. It is very important to provide appropriate first aid in case of frostbite in order to avoid possible consequences.
The first sign of frostbite, according to experts, is a slight tingling and burning sensation. Unfortunately, many do not take these early warning signs seriously when the body is just beginning to cry for help.
Therefore, in most cases, first aid begins to be provided a little later, when the sensations already become very painful.
Due to the effect of low temperatures, the blood vessels of the skin narrow, that is, the level of saturation of any part of the body with oxygen decreases. As a result, the body gradually begins to lose its ability to withstand the cold, and changes are triggered in the tissues, leading to the death and destruction of cells. General hypothermia of the body can also play a negative role – there is a possible risk of complications or a longer period of healing of frostbitten areas.
To effectively provide first aid for frostbite, it is important to be able to distinguish between its degrees. The mildest is 1st degree frostbite, which occurs as a result of a short stay in the cold. It manifests itself in the form of symptoms such as a slight burning sensation, tingling and tingling sensation, the skin on the affected area turns pale or even whitens. If the frostbite area is warmed, the skin turns red.
After this stage of frostbite, the tissues are completely restored within 5-6 days
If the period of being in unfavorable conditions was longer, the 2nd degree of frostbite may occur, which is characterized by significantly pale skin, accompanied by a significant decrease in the sensitivity of the skin to external stimuli, up to its complete loss. When the damaged area is warmed, the pain in this area increases, and itchy skin begins. During the first days, blisters or blisters with transparent contents may appear on the skin. For complete healing after frostbite of the 2nd degree, it may already take one or two weeks, and only if first aid was provided in a timely manner.
The 3rd degree of frostbite differs in the same symptoms as with lighter ones, however, they appear more intensely – pain is stronger, and the bubbles that appear after injury contain bloody fluid
In this case, skin cells die, therefore, subsequently, scars may form on the damaged area. The duration of the healing period for grade 3 lesions can be about a month.
The most dangerous is frostbite of the 4th degree, which can occur as a result of a rather long stay in conditions of low temperature, as well as the impact of additional negative factors (wet clothes, strong wind, etc.). Grade 4 frostbite is characterized by a combination of grade 2 and 3 symptoms. However, the consequences in this case can be much more serious. With a defeat of such severity, necrosis of soft tissues, joints and even bones can occur; the affected area has a marbled or bluish tint, it can swell, and after warming it can increase in size.
First aid for frostbite of the face
In order to properly provide first aid for frostbite of the face, it is necessary to begin to react immediately after the tingling or tingling of the cheeks or nose is felt in the cold, because these are the very first signs of the coming frostbite. First, you should immediately cover your face with a scarf or hand, and raise your collar. Usually people who experience these sensations try to do it instinctively.
The most susceptible to frostbite are the following parts of the body: face, ears, arms and legs.
It is also helpful to rub your nose and cheeks with warm, dry palms until they are slightly flushed to restore blood circulation to the right amount. You should not use wet gloves or mittens, and especially snow, so as not to infect the microtraumas formed on the delicate skin of the face.
After warming, the skin can be lubricated with vegetable oil, petroleum jelly is also suitable for this. You can then apply a warming bandage.
First aid for frostbite hands and feet
Quite often, the risk of frostbite arises from insufficiently warm mittens or gloves that are wet from snow. As soon as the hands begin to freeze, it is necessary to begin to warm them with vigorous exercise.
Frostbite of the feet can most often occur when a person is in the cold in too tight, uncomfortable shoes, especially if they are wet. Experts recommend choosing winter shoes one size larger than, for example, summer shoes. Thus, if necessary, you can put on warm socks and maintain blood circulation at the proper level.
At the very first signs of freezing of the feet, experts recommend that you be active immediately: jump, wiggle your toes, or just walk vigorously
A fairly simple and at the same time effective way for first aid in case of frostbite of the extremities is warm water, baths from which are indicated both for frostbite of the legs and hands. To do this, it is worth preparing a bath, the temperature of which is about 30-35 degrees. Then it is necessary to gradually increase the water temperature until it reaches 40-50 degrees. The total duration of this procedure is 20-25 minutes. Redness of the skin and mild pain sensations indicate that blood circulation in the damaged area of the skin begins to recover.
First aid in case of frostbite
To enhance the effect of warm baths, you can make a light massage of the limb. After this, you must carefully wipe the affected area. If there are no blisters on the skin, rub the skin with rubbing alcohol and apply a heat compress. Before contacting a doctor, it is better to refrain from using medications: this can complicate subsequent treatment.
After providing first aid, it is imperative to seek help from a medical institution to provide qualified assistance.
Improper first aid for frostbite
The main goal of first aid for frostbite is to restore impaired blood circulation. Therefore, in no case should you try to warm up the affected part of the body too quickly by immersing it in hot water: after exposure to low temperatures in the tissues at the cellular level, a kind of “falling asleep” process takes place, in which blood circulation is greatly slowed down.
Therefore, attempts to rapidly restore blood flow can lead to cell death in the frostbite area, that is, there is a threat of tissue necrosis.
Quite often there are such erroneous recommendations, such as help in the form of rubbing with snow or cold water. This is very dangerous: the temperature of the damaged area as a result of such manipulations can drop even further, and vigorous rubbing can cause microtraumas, which, in turn, is fraught with the development of an infectious process.
Also interesting to read: palming.