|
Frostbite
Frostbite - frozen body tissue,
usually fingers, toes or skin and must be handled very carefully to prevent permanent
damage. Children are at greater risk for frostbite than adults, because they lose heat
from their skin more rapidly than adults and they don't want to leave their winter games
to go inside and warm up. You can prevent frostbite by:
- Dressing your children in layers.
- Make sure they come indoors at regular
intervals to warm up.
- Looking out for frost nip, frostbite's
early warning signal.
- Keeping an eye on the weather conditions.
Frost nip
Frosting usually affects the fingers, toes, nose cheeks and ears, leaving them white and
numb. Frost nip can be treated at home.
What to do:
- Bring the patient indoors immediately.
- Remove wet clothing. (wet clothes draw
heat from the body.)
- Immerse affected body parts in warm water
37-40C (100-105 degrees F) until all sensation returns to the patient.
- Don't allow the patient control the water
temperature. Cold and numb hands can't feel heat and can be severely burned by water that
is too hot.
Frostbite
Frostbite is characterized by white, waxy skin that feels numb and hard.
It requires emergency medical attention, call your Doctor or call an
Ambulance.
What to do:
- Remove wet clothing from the patient, get
him into warm dry clothes, then take him to a hospital casualty department. You'll need to
carry if the feet are affected..
- While waiting for an ambulance, give the
patient a warm drink and begin first-aid treatment.
- Immerse frozen areas in warm water 37-40C
(100-105 degrees F) or apply warm compresses for +10-30 minutes. If warm water is not
available, wrap gently in warm blankets.
- Don't use direct heat such as a electric
or gas fires, heating pads or hot water bottles.
- Don't thaw the area if it is at risk of
refreezing, this can cause severe tissue damage.
- Don't rub frost bitten skin or rub snow on
it.
- Rewarming will be accompanied by a burning
sensation. There maybe skin blistering and soft tissue swelling and may turn red, blue, or
purple in colour. When skin is pink and no longer numb, the area is thawed.
- Apply sterile dressings to the affected
areas, place the dressing between fingers or toes if they have been affected. Try not to
disturb any blisters, rap rewarmed areas to prevent refreezing and have the patient keep
thawed areas as still as possible.
|
