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Definition
Symptoms
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Symptoms of mild frostbite (frostnip) are cold, tingling and painful skin.
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True frostbite causes white, hard, completely numb skin; can be serious, and always requires medical attention after re-warming.
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Common sites are toes, fingers, tip of the nose, outer ear or cheeks.
Cause
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The nerves, blood vessels and skin cells of a part of the body are temporarily frozen.
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The ears, nose, fingers, and toes are most commonly affected.
Frostbite Severity - Frostbite can be classified like burns:
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Frostnip (mild frostbite): Cold, tingling and painful skin
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1st Degree: White and waxy (hard) while frozen; mild redness and swelling after re-warming
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2nd Degree: Same as 1st degree plus blisters after 24 hours
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3rd Degree: Blood-filled blisters progressing to skin damage and scarring
Hypothermia
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Frostbite and hypothermia are two distinct and independent medical problems.
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Frostbite results from a cold injury to the skin. The body's core temperature can be normal.
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In contrast, hypothermia signifies a marked decrease in the body's core temperature, and frostbite may not be present. Hypothermia is defined as a body temperature less than 95° F (35° C) rectally, and can be fatal without intervention.
Factors Contributing to Frostbite
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Medical conditions: Patients with diabetes, Raynaud's disease, and previous frostbite are all at greater risk.
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Type of contact: The frostbite is much worse if the skin and clothing are also wet at the time of cold exposure. Touching bare hands to cold metal and volatile products (like gasoline) stored outside during freezing weather can cause immediate frostbite.
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Duration of contact: The longer the cold exposure, the greater both the heat loss and the likelihood of frostbite. The wind velocity on a cold day (windchill index) also determines how quickly frostbite occurs.
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First Aid:
FIRST AID Advice for Frostbite:
Rewarm the frostbitten area rapidly with wet heat.
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Move into a warm room.
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For frostbite of an extremity (e.g., fingers, toes): Place the frostbitten part in very warm water. A bathtub or sink is often the quickest approach. The water should be very warm (104° to 108° F, or 40° to 42° C), but not hot enough to burn. Immersion in this warm water should continue until a pink flush signals the return of circulation to the frostbitten part (usually 30 minutes).
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For frostbite of the face (e.g., ears, nose): Apply warm wet washcloths to frostbitten area of the face. Continue doing this until a pink flush signals the return of circulation to the frostbitten area (usually 30 minutes).
Note: Do not rewarm a frostbitten area if there is a chance of refreezing.
FIRST AID Advice for Frostbite During Transport to a Medical Facility:
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Wrap frostbitten area in warm blanket or clean dressing.
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Protect frostbitten area from injury.
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Avoid walking on frozen feet if possible (Reason: may cause further tissue injury).
FIRST AID Advice for Hypothermia:
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Remove wet clothing.
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Wrap in warm blankets (or clothing, sleeping bag, even newspaper).
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Move into a warm space (e.g., home, building, car, tent).
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