The frostbite is a burning of the skin caused by exposure to a cold extreme. Sometimes a few seconds for the cause, especially at high altitudes by winds or if the clothes are wet. It mainly affects the extremities (fingers and toes) and sometimes the face (ears, nose and cheeks).
The frostbite becomes a medical emergency when it is important. The skin white, insensitive and hard, waxy appearance characteristic of frostbite is the result of the phase known as vasoconstriction. This phase is when the blood vessels constrict and the blood which withdraws into the center of the body to bring the heat to vital organs in response to a cold extreme. Generally, any person exposed to cold may experience a slight tingling in the extremities of the limbs and face, and sometimes a blush. These symptoms should be seen as a warning and encourage further protect themselves. When cold exposure continues, frostbite sets the following steps:
Frostbite benign
- sensation of pain or burning sensation followed by numbness and loss of sensation of cold experienced in the affected part;
- waxy white and the skin which persists until it thaws;
- tenderness, redness and swelling for a few hours during the warming of the affected part.
Frostbite serious
- blisters filled with lymphatic fluid and sometimes blood
- presence of cracks in certain cases;
- destruction of all layers of the skin and deeper tissues can lead to gangrene.
Causes of Frostbite?
- Prolonged exposure to extreme cold;
- lack of adequate protective clothing.
Tips in Frostbite?
Protect the frozen part
If you face again the cold , protect the exposed until you can warm it up properly and only once.
Perform a gradual warming
Try to warm up the cold rolling in a warmer area of your body, for example by putting his hand under the armpit or by immersing it in a hot bath at a temperature that you gradually increase from 37 to 42 ° C. Keep in the area with water until it becomes reddish, usually 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure that the temperature of the bath is not greater than 42 ° C. Water that is too hot may worsen wounds if they are present.
Avoid rubbing the skin damage of frostbite
Do not handle the affected part, because it may destroy tissue.
Do not drink alcohol to warm
May cause dilation of blood vessels and thus cause a greater loss of body heat.
Make movements
To bring blood to the extremities, you can make circular movements with the arms, clap or stomp on site.
When to see Frostbite
- You can not warm you and your internal temperature is below 37 ° C.
- You notice a bubble containing a clear liquid or bloody.
- The affected part is totally insensitive, even after warming your body.
Examps Frostbite
The doctor assesses the severity of the damage and ensures that vital signs are stable. It checks the blood circulation in the hands and feet, and assesses the extent of skin lesions, if present.
Treatment Frostbite
The doctor will make a warming of the area affected by frostbite if it has not returned to normal temperature by means of blankets and showers. When frostbite is severe, it may require hospitalization. The doctor may administer a preventive treatment against tetanus and prescribe painkillers if needed. If the doctor finds the presence of wounds, he treats it as if it was a burn . These wounds are eventually cleaned with hot tubs daily. Physiotherapy may also contribute to the recovery movement. Amputation is performed as a last resort and in extreme cases (fatal gangrene).
Caution should be taken not to rapidly warm up the affected area until further refreezing is prevented. Warming can be achieved in one of two ways:
Passive rewarming involves using body heat or ambient room temperature to aid the person's body in rewarming itself. This includes wrapping in blankets or moving to a warmer environment. Do not make affected area (skin) touch any cold or hot objects. Keep affected area warm. Treatment of frostbite centers on rewarming (and possibly thawing) of the affected tissue. The decision to thaw is based on proximity to a stable, warm environment. If rewarmed tissue ends up refreezing, more damage to tissue will be done. Excessive movement of frostbitten tissue can cause ice crystals that have formed in the tissue to do further damage. Splinting and/or wrapping frostbitten extremities are therefore recommended to prevent such movement. For this reason, rubbing, massaging, shaking, or otherwise applying physical force to frostbitten tissues in an attempt to rewarm them can be harmful.
Active rewarming is the direct addition of heat to a person, usually in addition to the treatments included in passive rewarming.Active rewarming requires more equipment and therefore may be difficult to perform in the prehospital environment. When performed, active rewarming seeks to warm the injured tissue as quickly as possible without burning them. This is desirable as the faster tissue is thawed, the less tissue damage occurs. Active rewarming is usually achieved by immersing the injured tissue in a water-bath that is held between 40-42°C (104-108F). Warming of peripheral tissues can increase blood flow from these areas back to the bodies' core. This may produce a decrease in the bodies' core temperature and increase the risk of cardiac dysrhythmias.
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