1. Frostbite

2. What is Frostbite?
A thermal injury to the skin resulting from prolonged exposure to moderate cold or brief exposure to extreme cold.
Ice crystals form in and around skin cells due to decreased blood supply
Typically hands, feet, nose, ears, and cheeks.

3. Signs and Symptoms Itching Pain Swelling Numbness
Mottled (blotchy) skin
Hard, glossy, grayish, yellow skin
Pain
Numbness
Prickly sensations
Firm, whitened skin areas
Peeling or blistering

4. Frostnip or Frostbite?
1st degree: Frostnip. Numbness and whitening of the skin. Rewarm promptly.
2nd degree: Superficial frostbite. Outer skin hard and frozen but tissue underneath has normal resilience.
3rd degree: Deep frostbite. Skin is white or blotchy and blue. Skin and tissue underneath is hard and very cold.
On rewarming, expect blisters with second or third degree frostbite.

5. Prevention
Keep skin covered
Stay warm and dry
NEVER accept numbness

6. Treatment
PREVENTION
Gently rewarm with another warm body, warm clothing, or lukewarm water
Keep the injured area warm!
Wrap blisters or peeling skin with sterile gauze.

7. Treatment No-no’s DO NOT rewarm frostbite if refreezing is possible
DO NOT rub
DO NOT use direct heat