First aid with frostbite
With deep( III -I V degree) frostbite appears soreness in the affected area of the body, loss of sensitivity, skin becomes pale, cold to the touch. Active movements of frostbitten toes or hands are not possible.
When deep frostbite, it is necessary to wrap the affected part of the body with something warm, and if possible, apply a layer of gauze to the hand or leg that has been coldly injured, then a thick layer of cotton wool, again gauze, or an oilcloth or a plastic bag.
For a long time it was believed that by helping with frostbite, you must necessarily rub the frostbitten parts of the body with snow and deliver the person to a warm place as soon as possible.
Such actions are unacceptable! Firstly, because rubbing the skin with snow aggravates frostbite and injures it with ice crystals, and this threatens infection of frost-bitten areas and suppuration. Secondly, rapid warming in a warm room can lead to the necrosis of tissues.
To prevent necrosis of tissues, warming when frostbite should not be fast!
Before inserting the victim into a warm room, it is necessary to impose heat-insulating dressings made of gauze or a wide bandage with a layer of cotton wool on frost-bitten areas( only on the area with pronounced blanching of the skin!)You can also use scarves, scarves, warm wadded or fur gloves, any warm clothes. Thus, frost-bitten tissues are isolated from the surrounding air, and warming occurs slowly, due to the generation of heat by the body. It is very good to give the victim a drink of hot tea.
Do not warm the frost-bitten areas with hot baths or dry heat. This dramatically increases metabolic processes, which leads to the development of necrosis( necrosis) of tissues, since the circulation in them has not yet been restored. Affected areas of the
can not be lubricated with fat or ointments. This aggravates the cooling, can injure the skin.
Necrotic changes in tissues during frostbites often develop not immediately, but 3-5 days after hypothermia. Gradually, edema develops against the background of pronounced cyanosis of the skin, bubbles appear. This indicates a deep lesion of tissues and is fraught with serious consequences. Therefore, in any case, after providing first aid, the victim must necessarily visit a doctor.