Geographic distribution of snakebites, insect stings, and environmental injuries

¶ … Aid Procedure for Frostbite

The best way to handle frostbite, which is the actual freezing and possible death of tissue due to prolonged exposure to cold or extreme temperatures, is to take the relatively easy steps to prevent getting it. Adequate warm clothing that is not too tight and that covers the body is enough protection in most conditions. Also, "using a windproof outer layer of clothing will especially help in windy conditions," as wind speeds up the rate of heat loss from the body (Quinn, par. 2). If you take enough measures to keep the body warm, especially in the extremities like the fingers and toes, then the tissue will not be able to freeze, and frostbite will not occur. Frostbite happens when the body's heat is dissipating too quickly into the air, and the right kind of winter clothing acts as insulation that traps that heat in and prevents the body from freezing and experiencing frostbite.

Everyone knows that a sweater can help keep you warm, but for extremely cold conditions thick jackets and even specialized wind- and water-proof clothing is necessary. Even in less extreme circumstances, face masks and mittens instead of gloves are also recommended for colder situations because they actually keep in more heat (Pantell et al., 342). In addition, simply monitoring the amount of time spent exposed to the cold and watching for early warning signs of frostbite like numbness or stiffness will prevent most cases of frostbite, as long as a warm area is available to take the person to.

Frostbite actually occurs because of the body's response to the cold. In order to conserve heat in very cold temperatures or during extended periods in the cold, the body constricts the blood vessels to exposed or extra-cold areas of skin. This limits the amount of heat lost from the blood traveling to these areas (eMedicineHealth). This also makes the tissue with the constricted blood vessels grow even colder, until it reaches the point where it can literally freeze. The beginning stages of this process cover the first three degrees of frostbite, which is categorized in a way that is very similar to the way burns are. The first degree might just be a little numbness and stiffness, accompanied by a yellowish color to the skin of the affected area. The second and third degrees are basically just extensions of these symptoms -- increased numbness and stiffness, and the skin goes from yellow to white, and from a rough, leathery texture to a hard one -- just like you might expect frozen flesh to feel like. At this stage, if it will not be possible to keep the tissue from refreezing, it is actually best to just cover the area and leave it alone. This frozen skin tissue actually acts as a protective layer for the muscles, nerves, and other less easily replaceable tissues that lie beneath it, insulating the deeper tissues from the effects of the cold (Giesbrecht and Wilkerson, 78). In addition, the thawing and refreezing of a frostbitten area will actually cause more damage than simply leaving it untreated until it can be properly dealt with. Covering the frostbitten skin and attempting t stop the problem from getting any worse is a good idea, but no treatment should be attempted for frostbite until the victim is in a stable, warm environment.

Fourth-degree frostbite is extremely dangerous and is almost certain to cause permanent damage. It is well-documented that "severe cases of frostbite can result in infection," and gangrene -- the complete death of frostbitten tissue -- can also occur, requiring amputation to stop its spread (Healthscout). By this time in the progression of the frostbite, the skin would have a purplish or black color. Pain would most likely have stopped in the affected area some time ago, but this is actually a bad sign -- as long as the tissue is still feeling pain, it must be alive, but when there is absolutely no sensation, permanent damage is more likely. Victims of fourth degree frostbite need immediate emergency medical attention, and first-aid efforts should not be used expect by a trained professional. In fact, when dealing with frostbite, just as when dealing with most other injuries and diseases, attention and treatment from a medical professional is always preferable to first aid care by someone untrained. Still, in minor or superficial cases of frostbite, there are some important first aid tips to keep in mind, and the problem can usually be dealt with without resorting to emergency care.

The most important things to know about when you encounter frostbite is what NOT to do. The problems that occur when thawing occurs to early and refreezing is allowed to occur have already been addressed. There are also many wrong ways to g about warming up a person when the time is right, though, because "frostbitten skin is easily burned" (Doctor's Book of Home Remedies, 254). Using sources of dry heat such as fires, blow dryers, and even car exhaust -- which might be the most readily available heat sources on a camping trip -- can actually create burns in combination with the frostbite, creating far more damage than the frostbite alone. In addition, rubbing frostbitten areas, which seems like a common-sense way to warm them up, will actually damage the extremely sensitive frozen skin, which could very easily lead to infection and even increased damage from the cold.

The correct way to warm and thaw frozen tissue in the case of frostbite is to put the affected body part in water that's round 100 degrees Fahrenheit (Gavin). This will ensure that the tissue is re-warmed at the rapid yet steady pace that has been found to be the most effective and least damaging way to counter the effects of frostbite. Unfortunately, the cure can often be more painful, at least in the short-term, than the condition. Frostbite victims generally don't feel pain after a certain point in the progression of the condition because the tissue is numbed and dying from the cold. When the tissue is effectively brought back to life (really just thawed out), the feeling returns to it quickly but the constricted blood vessels take awhile to relax and restore the flow of blood and nutrients to the affected area. The result can be a very painful sensation in the thawing parts. Ibuprofen and other pain killers that do not interfere with blood flow can be administered to relieve pain (Carline et al., 113).