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Features of first aid for frostbite in humans. First aid for frostbite First aid for frostbite

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Frostbite is a frequent consequence of the negative impact of low temperatures on various soft tissues of the human body.

In the vast majority of cases, it occurs in the winter, and the most delicate protruding parts of the body are affected - fingers on the limbs, ears, nose, face, i.e. elements that are not sufficiently protected from external environmental factors.

What are the types and signs of frostbite? What to do when identifying this negative process? When is it necessary to see a doctor without fail? Thus, in the article you will learn everything about first aid for frostbite or frostbite.

Degrees and signs of frostbite

The characteristic manifestations of frostbite significantly depend both on the general level of low temperature and on the duration of its effect on body parts. In modern medicine, several gradations of degrees of cold tissue damage are used, and the signs of this process also differ accordingly.

The general classification includes:

You can read more about the classification of frostbite.

In addition, doctors note a difference in the mechanisms of frostbite development, which are formed either by direct contact or after exposure to cold air currents.

Also, there is a division into degrees of general frostbite with characteristic symptoms:

Lung. Pale skin is complemented by general chills, slowing of the pulse to 60 beats per minute, local frostbite of soft tissues of 1 or 2 degrees. Speech difficulties and lethargy are less commonly diagnosed. Respiration and blood pressure in this case remains stable;
Average. It is characterized by "cyanosis" of the skin, a slowing of the pulse to 50 beats per minute, a slight drop in blood pressure, a pathological change in breathing - it becomes rare (about 9-10 breaths with exhalations per minute) and shallow. Local frostbites are more extensive, most often 2 or 3 degrees of the depth of the lesion. Often, in patients with an average degree of frostbite, consciousness is depressed, persistent drowsiness occurs, the pupils react poorly to light stimuli, and the overall body temperature drops to 32 degrees Celsius;
Heavy. Soft tissues and skin in the affected areas acquire a deep blue, closer to black color, sometimes with a marble tint. The pulse is poorly palpable and does not exceed 36 beats per minute, arterial pressure is significantly reduced. The patient's breathing is weak, shallow, no more than 3-4 breaths and exhalations per minute. The general body temperature drops to 31 degrees Celsius and below, consciousness, as a rule, is absent, convulsions often run through the body, involuntary vomiting often occurs. Frostbite of soft tissues is deep, extended to wide localizations, up to complete glaciation.

The main method of symptomatic classification of signs of frostbite, taking into account the above criteria, is a gradation according to the depth of soft tissue damage.

1 degree. In this case, the affected areas have a whitish, sometimes marbled color, which, after warming, changes to a strong redness. Puffiness is insignificant, signs of external damage to the skin are not observed. In the process of recovery, which usually takes 5-6 days, the patient feels a slight pain syndrome, itching, burning, his epithelium peels off and tingles;
2 degree. The skin integuments in the places of localization acquire a deeper bluish tint, small bubbles form on the surface of the epithelium, filled with a transparent liquid consistency like blisters. The pain syndrome of moderate strength is accompanied in the process of frostbite by severe skin itching, burning, and the frostbite sites themselves are restored in a few weeks;
3 degree. The skin has a deep bluish tint, larger vesicles form on the epithelium, the internal content of which has impurities of blood. In 1-2 days after frostbite, the sensitivity of the affected areas is completely lost, there is a partial death of the upper layers of the skin, in the place of which granulations and scars begin to form. The horny plates of the fingers of the extremities subjected to negative influence are partially deformed. The recovery process takes up to 1 month, accompanied by a strong pain syndrome, often a person after conservative therapy requires plastic surgery;
4 degree. It is formed at very low temperatures and prolonged contact effect on the affected area. In addition to the skin, soft tissues are also subjected to destruction, sometimes even cartilage, joints and bones. The external color of the epithelium is almost black, combined with dark blue and marble tint localizations (in places with a lower degree of lesion depth). In the process of warming, an extensive edema immediately forms, rapidly growing in size, while the sensitivity of tissues to contacts does not return. In the vast majority of cases, conservative therapy alone is not enough - classical surgery is necessary.

First aid for different degrees of frostbite

It should be noted that the provision of first aid for frostbite is a set of emergency measures to prevent the development of complications of this negative process or to save the life of the victim and cannot replace full-fledged qualified medical treatment. Regardless of the degree of frostbite after thawing, it is necessary to contact the attending physician, who will refer the patient for diagnosis and prescribe the necessary therapy according to vital signs.

Consider what first aid should be provided for frostbite or frostbite of various degrees.

1 degree frostbite

Does not pose a threat to the life of the victim with timely first aid. The list of basic first steps for frostbite usually includes:

Termination of contact with cold and moving the person into the room. It is extremely undesirable to carry out warming procedures in the cold, so the main primary task is to transport a person to a dry and warm place. In the absence of such an opportunity (for example, staying on an ice floe and the impossibility of a quick transfer), it is necessary to light a fire and stay at some distance from it in order to feel warm (but not hot, quick warming cannot be done);
Change of clothes. If possible, you need to change wet, cold or frozen clothes to dry ones, even before getting into heat, otherwise events are already held at home or in another room isolated from external weather factors;
Warming. The procedure for warming the limbs and small areas can be carried out by massaging the affected areas in warm conditions until the skin turns red. An alternative is intensive breathing at localization, light rubbing with a natural woolen cloth. If frostbite of the 1st degree is accompanied by hypothermia, then it is rational to take a warm bath - water is poured into it with a temperature of about 25 degrees, and after placing a person there, this level gradually rises to 40 degrees for 1 hour;
Bandage. After all the above measures, a classic cotton-gauze bandage is applied to the affected areas;
Warm drink. A person can and should be given warm sweet drinks to drink - tea, compote, rosehip broth. You can supplement this procedure with warm food, preferably also liquid.

2-3 degree frostbite

With deeper degrees of soft tissue damage, the first aid scheme looks different - a number of points are excluded from it, due to the high risks to the patient's health. Possible actions include:

Plentiful warm and sweet drink;
Formation of a reinforced warming bandage. In addition to layers of cotton wool and gauze, one should also contain cotton fabric and an upper oilcloth or rubber layer;
Fixation of limbs. In case of damage to the limbs, it is necessary not only to wrap them as tightly as possible, but also to fix them with improvised means, for example, planks, wrapping them around the arm or legs with a bandage;
Medications. If a person is conscious and has a swallowing reflex, then you can use some of the available drugs - antispasmodics (relieving spasms of the vascular periphery, typical representatives are drotaverine, papaverine), NSPV (weakening the inflammatory process and relieving pain, typical representatives are aspirin, ketorolac, nimesulide), antihistamines (weakening of the autoimmune reaction to frostbite, typical representatives are clemastine, suprastin, zyrtec), vitamins (vitamin C at a dosage of 1,000 milligrams strengthens blood vessels and counteracts their destruction);
Call an ambulance. It is mandatory for frostbite to call an ambulance to deliver the victim to the hospital.

4 degree frostbite

In the very last stage of frostbite, a person is often unconscious, his basic reflexes are impaired, the body is significantly hypothermic, pulse and breathing are practically absent, and the degree of soft tissue damage is extremely high. All of the above first aid methods are prohibited in this situation - the only way to help the victim will be to transport him to the hospital as quickly as possible.

If the car of the medical team is not nearby, then it is necessary to deliver the person on their own, for example, by private car, preventing the affected localizations from thawing (they must be insulated from heat as tightly as possible) - only in a hospital can a patient be provided with intensive resuscitation care and immediate surgical intervention was performed.

Now you know how to provide first aid for frostbite, but it is important what not to do in such a situation.

What not to do with frostbite

In the process of providing first aid to the victim, avoid actions that can harm a person!

Rubbing with snow. It is forbidden for any degree of frostbite due to the high probability of vascular damage and the development of sepsis;
The use of oils, grease, alcohol for external coverings. The above components are not effective, moreover, they will interfere with intensive care in a hospital setting;
Alcohol intake. Alcohol in any form dilates blood vessels and increases heat transfer, which causes a deterioration in the patient's condition;
Massage with hands or woolen fabrics. It can be used only at the first stage of frostbite, but is prohibited at 2-4;
Rapid rewarming. A person after frostbite should restore the heat balance gradually - the use of heating pads, hot water, heating over an open fire creates significant risks for the development of complications and tissue necrosis;
Ignoring the problem. Even a mild degree of frostbite cannot be ignored! After carrying out the necessary measures, it is advisable to visit a doctor;
Self-administration of systemic drugs. You can use as one of the first aid only analgesics, antihistamines, vitamin C and antispasmodics. Systemic drugs (antiplatelet agents, antibiotics, corticosteroids, anticoagulants, etc.) can only be prescribed by a medical professional for health reasons.

When to See a Doctor

Ideally, even with the mildest stage of frostbite, after undergoing a warming procedure, it is advisable to see a therapist who will diagnose the patient's condition and adjust the further course of treatment. It is mandatory to immediately seek qualified medical care in the following cases:

Features of frostbite in children

Children often suffer from frostbite, especially in winter. Active long games in the fresh air provoke no less intense sweating - underwear and clothes get wet, which creates additional risks of both hypothermia and frostbite.

As modern medical statistics show, the limbs with fingers and the head of the child most often suffer from frostbite.

Wet gloves, the absence of a hat on the head, constant exposure to snow and other factors provoke the rapid acquisition of mild forms of frostbite - 2.3 and even more so 4 degrees of pathology, as well as systemic frostbite of the whole body is diagnosed very rarely at this age.

In addition, children more often than adults manifest the so-called cold dermatitis or “chill” among the people - it has a chronic form and accompanies the younger generation throughout the autumn-winter period of time. Pathology is often associated with anemia and beriberi, characteristic of this age group of people.

The first signs of mild stages of frostbite in children are pallor of the skin.(up to cyanosis), lack of normal tactile sensations in the process of touching the epithelium, general lethargy, some difficulty in speech, chills, involuntary trembling and blue lips, slight swelling. With a more serious lesion, the formation of hemorrhagic vesicles on the affected areas, pronounced "cyanosis" of soft tissues with a marble tint, and other unpleasant manifestations are possible.

First aid for frostbite in a child:

Bring your child home as soon as possible
Remove from him all wet and cold clothes, giving in return dry and warm ones;
With a mild stage of frostbite, place the child in a bath of warm water (temperature about 30 degrees), then gradually increase the temperature over half an hour to 40 degrees. At the same time, lightly massage partially frostbitten localizations, starting from the extreme areas until the soft tissues acquire pronounced redness and complete restoration of blood circulation;
Dry the child dry, put under 2 blankets, and put a cotton-gauze bandage on the affected area, giving warm and sweet drinks (for example, tea) to bed;
In case of blisters, prolonged lack of skin sensitivity and other manifestations of 2-4 stages of frostbite, immediately call an ambulance.

Now you know everything about the rules for providing first aid to a victim of frostbite or frostbite.

Health 09.01.2016

Dear readers, today on the blog I want to talk about how to provide first aid for frostbite. Now in many regions it is sharply colder. And our walks with children, friends, even travel to and from work can result in health problems. Not so long ago, we talked about And here is the continuation of the conversation about what everyone needs to know what to do if you or your children are faced with frostbite. By the way, in the rating of New Year's injuries, frostbite takes 3rd place.

It seems that you always look forward to winter, but it is a difficult period for all of us, especially in regions with low temperatures and strong winds. We experience vitamin deficiency in the cold season, the immune and cardiovascular systems suffer. In addition, lack of sunlight and short daylight hours lead to drowsiness, apathy, and sometimes seasonal depression. It is very important at this time of the year not to interrupt physical activity, to spend some time in the fresh air, but be sure to protect yourself and your children from frostbite.

We have already talked about the prevention of frostbite. Here I will once again very briefly remind everyone that it is important to dress for the weather. Make sure that mittens, gloves, socks are not wet, shoes should not be tight. We need to pay special attention to our children. Take extra mittens so that you can change them in time. And also bring a change of mittens and socks to kindergarten. As soon as you feel the first signs of hypothermia, you should immediately go to a warm place and warm up.

First aid for frostbite and hypothermia

With frostbite, it is very important to provide first aid correctly, it will depend on how severe the consequences will be, so each of us should know what to do when one of our relatives has frostbite. Assistance measures differ with varying degrees of frostbite, but there are general rules, the observance of which can alleviate the further condition of the victim.

What to do with frostbite?

First of all, if there is a suspicion that a person has frostbite, it must be warmed up. Be sure to take him to any warm room, help take off his shoes, clothes and socks, wrap him up with something warm, give him warm tea, and if the victim’s condition causes concern, call an ambulance team that can assess the degree of tissue damage and provide medical assistance.

Important rule- it is necessary to warm the frozen part of the body slowly, you can not apply a heating pad, put your feet in a basin of hot water, rub with alcohol. This can lead to vascular damage, which will worsen the condition of the affected person. You should try to find a clean, dry bandage and put it on the affected area of the skin.

Help with frostbite

First aid for first degree frostbite . First aid for frostbite should be provided before the arrival of an ambulance. You need to try to assess the degree of frostbite and provide first aid yourself. If you observe mild frostbite, then you need to restore blood circulation in the frozen area of \u200b\u200bthe body, rubbing it with your hands, a terry towel or soft woolen cloth, but in no case with hard cloth or snow, so as not to damage the skin affected by frost and not to infect.

For more severe frostbite massage and rubbing are contraindicated, urgent medical care is needed here, and before the ambulance arrives, it is necessary to apply a warming bandage using cotton wool, gauze, and a clean cotton cloth. Wrap warm clothes over the bandage, and if the arms or legs are affected, then fix them with what is at hand. It can be any board or thick cardboard. If the person is conscious, you can give him a warm drink. In case of loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest, it is necessary to carry out artificial respiration before the ambulance arrives.

To summarize, here are some general first aid tips with frostbite:

Take off wet clothes, change into dry clothes,
Wrap him in a blanket
Give warm drink.
Make a light massage with your hands (palm), soft terry towel. It is especially good to massage the ears right away.
Remember to warm up slowly!
If frostbite is severe, then urgently call an ambulance team!

And what about alcohol? Many people think that if you are cold, you come home, and there is something from alcohol at home, then it is best to drink a little, so you will warm up faster. If you also think, then you are very much mistaken. I would like to say the following about alcohol once again: it causes heat loss and contributes to hypothermia of the body.

What can not be done with frostbite?

Do not immediately take a hot bath,
rubbed with snow,
Lubricate the affected skin with fat.
Drink strong tea and strong coffee! Tea is best drunk warm, weak and sweet.

What can happen to a person if he is not given first aid in case of severe frostbite?

The consequences can be dire. It can be about a person's life. And if we talk about frostbite of the limbs, then with severe frostbite and untimely assistance provided, the consequences can be very serious, up to amputation of the limbs.

Here is a reminder for all of us, first aid for frostbite.

First aid for frostbitten feet

Frostbite of the toes is the most common result of hypothermia, and it can occur even in milder frosts. Various factors play a role here: tight or wet shoes, wet socks, a static posture, general hypothermia. Sometimes a person realizes that they have frostbite when they stop feeling their toes. With a mild degree of frostbite, medical assistance may not be needed, the main thing is to quickly go into the room, warm the legs, restoring blood circulation in the vessels.

How to warm feet with frostbite?

The best way to warm your feet is to prepare a warm bath with a water temperature of about 25 degrees. Gradually, over 20 minutes, hot water is poured into the bath, bringing it to 40 degrees. Thus, blood circulation is restored gradually, the vessels are not damaged. At the same time, you can carry out a light massage of the frostbitten limb, rubbing the leg with your hands, starting with the fingers and rising higher to the foot and lower leg. Important: massage is allowed only with a mild degree of frostbite.

As you warm up, when the sensitivity is restored, quite severe pain is felt in the frostbitten tissues, this is normal, it means that the blood flow has returned to normal and the pain will soon pass. It is necessary to get your feet dry and wipe them with any antiseptic preparation, it can be chlorhexidine, miramistin or regular vodka. Apply a sterile bandage on top, wrap the leg with something warm and see a doctor. Even if you think you got off lightly, see a doctor, only a medical professional is able to assess the extent of damage and the degree of risk.

If after some time after warming, blisters filled with liquid appear at the site of the lesion, we can talk about the average degree of frostbite. With such frostbite, there is a threat of tissue infection, therefore, after first aid, mandatory medical care is needed.

With III and IV degrees of frostbite, damage to the deep layers of tissues occurs, and this is already a threat of gangrene and loss of fingers or part of a limb, so there should be no delay in providing medical care.

First aid for frostbite of fingers

Frostbite of the fingers occurs less frequently in winter, this can be facilitated by such factors as general malaise, anemia, various injuries accompanied by blood loss, as well as increased air humidity during severe frost. And I would like to remind everyone once again that in winter it is best to wear not gloves, but mittens, especially in cold weather.

First aid for frostbite of the fingers is similar to that described above, but unlike the legs, it is easier to warm the hands even on the street at the first sign of hypothermia, without leading to serious frostbite.

With tingling, partial numbness, it is necessary to move your fingers intensively, raise your hands above your head to restore blood circulation, wrap your hands with a scarf or hide them under your clothes. And, of course, quickly go to a warm room.

Frostbite of the face. First aid

Frostbite of the skin of the face is insidious in that a person does not immediately realize that he has frostbite, this is facilitated by a strong wind, which reduces the sensitivity of the skin. As a rule, you can get frostbite on your face while skiing, sledding, and doing other winter sports. People who have already been exposed to the negative effects of cold and suffering from cardiovascular diseases are especially susceptible to frostbite.

The first aid for mild frostbite of the skin of the face should be warming and restoring blood circulation. This is a light rub with dry hands and warm herbal tea or warm milk. I repeat that it is impossible to rub frostbitten skin with snow.

You need to be especially attentive to the face in case of frost, since with severe frostbite traces may remain, not to mention long-term treatment and the risk of complications. A large warm scarf will help, with which you can wrap your face up to the very eyes, a warm hat, a high collar, and when playing sports - lubricating exposed skin on the face with a special cream.

How can we all understand whether the assistance we have provided for frostbite is sufficient or whether further medical assistance is needed?

When should you seek medical attention for frostbite?

When we have pain when we warm our arms or legs.
The skin remains pale and cold.
If you see blisters on frostbitten areas.
If we press on the damaged area of the skin with frostbite, and it is dense, similar in density to a candle.
If there is severe trembling, slow breathing, drowsiness, lethargy, confusion.
If the area of frostbite is larger than the area of the palm of the victim.
If frostbite has occurred in a child or an elderly person.

Let's watch a video of what doctors say about first aid for frostbite:

Frostbite in children

Frostbite in children can happen if they walk uncontrollably outside in the cold for a long time. Children are mobile, they are not able to assess their own well-being, so their safety in the winter is completely dependent on adults. The child may sweat, may wet mittens, snow may get into the shoes, and as a result get frostbite.

Recommendations for first aid for children are no different from those described earlier. But even mild frostbite in children requires mandatory medical supervision. This is due to the fact that children's immunity and thermoregulation are not fully formed and the consequences of frostbite are not predictable.

It is better to play it safe and not go outside with a child in a very severe frost, especially in windy weather. During winter walks, monitor the condition of the baby's skin, dress according to the weather, and prevent clothes and shoes from getting wet. It is best to carry spare mittens and shoes with you so that if you get wet you can quickly change them. Let's briefly summarize once again what and how we should do.

First aid for hypothermia in children:

Remove all wet.
Change into dry clothes.
Cover with a blanket.
Give warm drink.
Feet can be warmed in a basin. The water temperature at the very beginning should not be higher than 25-26 degrees.
Within 10-15 minutes, this water temperature is slowly raised and brought to 38 degrees. Maximum 40 degrees. So you can warm your hands or feet for half an hour.
You can put a heater nearby.
Also, additionally take the baby’s hands and blow into his palms - our breath will also help warm his hands.

In case of frostbite, we immediately call an ambulance for the child.

Let's listen to Dr. Komarovsky's advice on frostbite in children.

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And for those who first came to the blog or missed the information, I will tell you that our winter issue of the “Fragrances of Happiness” magazine has recently been released. It was called "Soul of Ziima". Our magazine is free. It has a lot of useful and sincere for the whole family. And a lot of music. If you have not read it yet, are not familiar to everyone, subscribe to it and the magazine will be sent to your mail for free. I really want as many people as possible to know about our magazine, to be filled spiritually and sincerely. “Winter, the soul and wings of a butterfly…” is how I called my word as an editor. May they touch the hearts of each of you.

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I wish you all good health. May winter bring us joy, harmony, warmth. Of course, we will walk, meet friends, go sledding, skiing. Let's be wise. And at the first symptoms of hypothermia, we will immediately take measures to prevent frostbite.

23 comments

Answer

Alina
15 Feb 2018 at 11:23

Answer

Elena
14 Feb 2018 at 10:50

Answer

Good day, dear readers!

Winter is in full swing, and although the average annual temperature in northern regions around the world has increased, this does not mean that one day the frost can reach -30° and below. To avoid frostbite, I suggest that you read the information in this article, in which we will not only consider what frostbite is, but also the first signs, symptoms, causes, prevention and first aid for this pathological condition. Also on the nose of the New Year, which many people celebrate with excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, after which some of them fall asleep outside without feeling the cold. So…

What is frostbite?

Frostbite (frostbite)- damage to body tissues as a result of exposure to low temperatures. Extreme frostbite can lead to necrosis of tissues, therefore, in some cases, frostbite of the limbs sometimes ends with their amputation.

Frostbite affects mainly protruding parts of the body - fingers and toes, then all limbs, as well as open areas of the body - nose, cheeks, ears and face in general.

Frostbite of body parts usually begins with exposure to an ambient temperature of -10 ° C - -20 ° C, however, in regions with high humidity, or in autumn and spring, it can occur at -5 ° C, and even 0 °C. Chilling strong cold wind or presence of moisture (sweat) under clothes, in shoes can speed up the process of frostbite.

Frostbite - ICD

ICD-10: T33-T35;
ICD-9: 991.0-991.3.

Signs of frostbite

Symptoms of frostbite are characterized by 4 degrees, each of which has its own signs. Consider the degree of frostbite of the body in more detail, but first, let's find out the first signs of frostbite.

The first signs of frostbite

Paleness, and then redness of the skin;
Burning sensation on the skin, at the site of its lesion;
Tingling, with feeling of numbness;
Slight pain, sometimes with tingling;
Skin itching.

Frostbite degrees

Frostbite 1 degree (mild frostbite). The safest, if I may say so, is frostbite that occurs when a person is in the cold for a short time. Signs of a mild degree of frostbite are blanching of the affected area of the skin, which, after warming it, acquires a reddish tint, sometimes purple-red, and after a while (a week) begins to peel off. In some cases, swelling may develop. Other symptoms include burning, numbness, itching, and tingling in the affected area. Tissue necrosis with frostbite of the 1st degree usually does not occur. With the right measures, recovery occurs 5-7 days after the defeat.

Like other degrees of frostbite, it is characterized by a burning sensation, numbness, itching and pain, sometimes with tingling in the affected area of the skin, but with greater intensity. However, with frostbite of the 2nd degree, blisters with a clear liquid are already forming on the affected area. Healing usually occurs within 1-2 weeks, scars and other signs of injury do not remain on the skin.

It is characterized by more pronounced burning, numbness and sharp pains of the affected area, on which the blisters are already filled with bloody content. Body temperature starts to drop. The skin at this stage begins to die, and even after recovery, granulations and scars remain on the affected areas. If the nails are peeled off from frostbite, then they grow narrower, usually deformed. Recovery occurs in 2-3 weeks of treatment.

Frostbite 4 degrees. It is characterized by severe pain in frostbitten areas, their complete numbness. Soft tissue dies, often damage to bones and joints occurs. The skin acquires a bluish color, sometimes with marble outlines. Body temperature drops. Blisters with bloody contents form next to the frozen tissue. When warmed, severe swelling of frostbitten skin occurs. Sensitivity is usually lost. Sometimes the treatment of frostbite of the 4th degree ends with gangrene and amputation of the frostbitten area / body part. With inflammatory gangrenous process.

"Iron" frostbite

The so-called "iron" frostbite is a cold injury that develops as a result of contact of warm skin with a very cold metal object. For example, it is not uncommon for children's tongues to stick to a street fence or other metal structure.

The causes of frostbite, or factors that contribute to frostbite of the body can be:

Weather. As we already mentioned in the article, the main cause of frostbite is the impact on the body of low ambient temperature. The rate of frostbite increases if there is high humidity at the location of a person or if the wind blows on open areas of his body.

Clothing and footwear. When there is not enough clothing on the body to protect the body from the cold, then not only frostbite may appear, but also a person, with all the emerging results, up to loss of consciousness and death. Also remember that synthetic fabrics are not a good way to protect yourself from the cold, because. the skin under synthetic clothing usually does not breathe and therefore becomes covered with sweat. Further, the sweat cools, and as a good conductor of temperature, it gives cold to the body. To prevent this from happening, try to give preference to clothes made from natural fabrics in clothes.

Incorrectly selected shoes for winter or cold weather are also often the cause of frostbite on the toes. Usually this is facilitated by tight, uninsulated and thin-soled shoes. Tight shoes interfere with circulation and do not provide room for ventilation in the fingers of warm air. A thin sole (up to 1 cm) and the lack of insulation cannot protect your feet from a good frost.

Choose clothes and shoes for winter that are slightly larger than your size so that there is always room between your body and outerwear for warm air to ventilate.

Other causes of frostbite include:

Open areas of the body in the cold - lack of a scarf, gloves, headgear, hood;
Lack of movement in the cold for a long time;
Alcoholic or drug intoxication;
Overwork, malnutrition, (lack of dietary fat, carbohydrates or);
Injuries, especially with bleeding, traumatic brain injury;
The presence of various diseases, for example - heart failure, cachexia, Addison's disease, and others.

Assistance with frostbite is aimed at warming the body and normalizing blood circulation in it. Consider first aid for frostbite in detail, step by step. So…

1. For warming, take cover in a calm place, preferably warm. If the victim cannot move independently, try to move him to a similar place.

2. Remove outer clothing and shoes from the frostbitten person, and if the inner clothing is damp, remove them too.

3. Wrap the person in a blanket. Under the blanket, you can attach heating pads with warm water (not hot).

4. For warming, you can not use the contact of the frostbitten area with hot water, radiator, fireplace, heater and fire, heat with a hair dryer, because. these actions can cause a burn, since the damaged part of the body is usually insensitive, and also destroy blood vessels. Warming up should be done gradually!

5. Let the person drink hot tea, warm milk, fruit drink. In no case do not let us drink coffee or alcohol, which can only aggravate the situation.

6. After the above actions, if possible, a frostbitten person can be placed in a bath with warm water, about 18-20°C, after some time, the water temperature can be increased, but gradually, up to 37°C-40°C.

7. After the bath, gently dry your skin with a towel, dress in dry clothes made from natural fabrics and lie down again under the covers, applying warm heating pads. Keep drinking hot tea.

8. If there are no blisters on the frostbitten area, wipe it with vodka or alcohol, and put a sterile bandage on it. You can begin to lightly massage the affected area with clean hands. Movements should be light so as not to damage the vessels, and directed towards the heart. If there are blisters on the site, you can’t do massage in this place so as not to bring it in, for example.

9. Warming, rubbing and massage are done until the skin becomes reddish, warm and soft. During warming, the affected area may burn and swell.

10. If, after the above actions, the sensitivity and mobility of the frostbitten part of the body does not appear, it is necessary to call a doctor. When the protective functions of the immune system decrease, which makes a person vulnerable to various diseases, the work of the cardiovascular system is also disrupted, and this is another argument for consulting a doctor after frostbite, especially for children and the elderly.

Try not to use ointments for rubbing, because. they can aggravate the clinical picture of frostbite and complicate the further process of its treatment.

A mild degree of frostbite, with the right actions, passes in a couple of hours. In other cases, the speed of recovery depends on the professionalism of doctors and, of course, the Lord God!

First aid for "iron" frostbite

1. If the child sticks his tongue to the metal, it is advisable to pour warm water over the place of adhesion, in order to avoid serious injury. If there is no water, you need to use warm breath. The heated metal usually releases its "victim".

2. Disinfect the affected area - first rinse it with warm water, then, if it is not the tongue, treat the wounds with hydrogen peroxide. This tool, thanks to its oxygen bubbles, will remove all the dirt from the wound.

3. Stop the bleeding, which can be done with a hemostatic sponge or sterile bandage.

4. In case of serious damage and deep wound, consult a doctor.

Face. To warm the face in the cold, you can make several deep bends forward or walk a little, leaning forward with your body in the lower back. Thus, blood circulation in the head improves. Also, the nose, cheeks and ears can be rubbed with fingers, which also improves blood circulation in them and, accordingly, a surge of heat. Just refrain from rubbing frostbitten areas with snow, as this enhances the pathological process of frostbite and can greatly damage the skin.

Fingers and toes. Remember how you threw a stone, in the same way, sharply, only without clenching your fingers into a fist, throw your hands forward. You can also stick your fingers under your armpits. To warm the legs, you need to swing your legs back and forth, as if it were a pendulum moving. The greater the swinging of the legs and the higher the intensity of this action, the faster the warming of the legs occurs.

The body in general. Perform actively several elements of charging - squats, push-ups, running in place.

However, remember, the more a person freezes, then warms up and freezes again, the worse it is for him, because. when warm, sweat comes out of the skin, which is a good conductor of temperature, and if it cools, then cold and frost will attack even more.

Help the animals

Frost is a problem not only for many people, but also for animals. Some animals simply freeze to the floor and cannot stand up on their own. Do not be indifferent, fill a bottle of warm water and pour over the place of freezing of the animal. Feed him, if there is an opportunity to attach him, attach him or bring him home to spend the night, and life will surely thank you with the same kindness, and even more!

To avoid frostbite on the hands and feet, face and other parts of the body, pay attention to the following prevention rules:

- Unless necessary, do not go out into the street in severe frost, and also do not drive a car in severe frost to distant places where a car appears, and, accordingly, it may take a very long time to wait for help. If the car has stalled away from the settlement, do not leave it unnecessarily so that warm air does not escape from the passenger compartment. Call the rescuers, and if not, then leave a few signs near you on the road asking for help for passing vehicles.

- When going out, dress carefully, leaving as few parts of the body exposed as possible.

- Clothing, especially underwear, should be made of natural fabrics. Use mittens instead of gloves to keep your fingers warm. Don't forget a hood that protects well from the wind. The face can be covered with a scarf. Shoes should be comfortable, not tight, with insulation, and the thickness of its sole should be at least 1 cm. Socks must be clean, dry and made from natural fabrics. Clothing and shoes should be slightly larger in size so that there is a layer of warm, well-ventilated air between the upper and lower clothing, as well as the foot and the wall of the shoe. Tight clothing interferes with blood circulation, and this is another reason to wear loose clothing and shoes. In addition, all upper, preferably, clothing should be waterproof.

- Dress like a "cabbage", tucking all your clothes into each other.

- In the cold, you can not smoke and drink alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, which contributes to impaired blood circulation and the development of a deceptive feeling of warming, while the skin actually freezes anyway.

- In frosty weather, do not go tired, hungry, after injuries and blood loss, with diets with a minimum amount of fats and carbohydrates, hypotension, poor coordination of movements.

- Do not carry a heavy burden in the cold, because. heavy bags, pinching the fingers, disrupt the blood circulation in them.

- Before going out into the cold, open areas of the body can be lubricated with special products (for example, a special cream, lard or animal oil), but in no case should you use moisturizers for this purpose.

- Do not wear metal jewelry in the cold, because. the metal cools rapidly and can stick to the body, giving off cold to it, and can also contribute to the appearance of a cold injury.

- If you feel the first signs of frostbite, take cover in a warm place - in a store, cafe, in extreme cases, in the entrance, but if you are far away in the mountains, call rescuers, and at this time take cover at least under the snow, because. it is a poor conductor of heat. You can also dig under the snow during a snowstorm.

- In no case do not remove shoes from frostbitten feet, as they can immediately swell, after which it may no longer be possible to put the shoes back on, and the feet will become even more vulnerable to frost.

- Stay out of the wind.

- Do not go out into the cold after a shower, with wet clothes.

– When hiking, be sure to take a change of warm clothes with you, incl. socks, mittens, underwear, and don't forget a thermos of hot tea.

- Do not allow yourself to get frostbitten and warm twice, because. this increases the risk of severe injury to damaged tissues.

- Do not let children and the elderly go out into the cold without supervision for a long time.

- Do not give children items with metal parts to play in frosty weather - shovels, children's weapons, etc.

- After a long walk, examine yourself for frostbite, if any, follow the first aid steps, and then, if necessary, consult a doctor. Remember, if frostbitten tissues are left unattended, it can lead to gangrene, and further amputation of that part of the body.

Be careful!

Tags: frostbite of the hands, frostbite of the fingers, frostbite of the feet, frostbite of the face, frostbite of the cheeks, frostbite of the nose

Lecture 8.5. First aid for frostbite.

Frostbite is damage to various parts of the body during prolonged exposure to low temperatures outdoors. In especially severe cases, soft tissues can become dead. Frostbite occurs mainly in winter, when the air temperature drops to -10-20 o C and below. In conditions of high humidity and strong winds, frostbite of hands or other parts of the body can be obtained in autumn and spring, even at temperatures above zero. What should you do if you or your loved ones still got frostbite?

Sad statistics suggests that almost all severe cases occur with people who are intoxicated. Hunger or overwork can also be prerequisites for frostbite. The risk group also includes people with pathologies of the immune and cardiovascular systems.

Signs of frostbite

With mild frostbite, there is a low body temperature (up to 32 o C) and chills. Goosebumps appear on the body, its color becomes cyanotic. Another sign of mild frostbite is a reduced pulse - up to 60 beats per minute.

The average degree of frostbite is characterized by low body temperature, dropping to 29 o C, depression and deep drowsiness. The skin becomes pale and takes on a marbled hue, not warm to the touch. Plus, breathing and pulse slow down (up to 50 beats per minute).

The most dangerous signs of frostbite appear when severe. A person is sick, convulsions appear, he may even lose consciousness. The pulse slows down to a critical 36 beats per minute, breathing to 3-4 breaths per minute. The skin becomes cold and pale with a bluish tint. In this case, the most severe frostbite III or IV degree is diagnosed.

Frostbite degrees

Cold affects tissues in such a way that significant and sometimes irreversible changes begin in them. In particular, spasms of blood vessels occur, which blocks the blood flow. The severity of these changes depends on the degree of frostbite.

In total, four degrees are distinguished according to the depth of tissue damage:

I degree . This is the mildest degree of frostbite, in which the affected tissue does not die off. The skin turns pale or acquires a purple hue. A person feels a burning sensation and tingling. Then the affected areas become numb. After first aid, they begin to itch and hurt. Usually people with frostbite of the first degree recover no later than a week - depending on the area of frostbite.

II degree . Being in the cold for a long time, a person can get frostbite II degree. In this case, with symptoms similar to a milder degree, more severe consequences appear. 1-2 days after frostbite, blisters with a clear liquid appear on the skin. With proper treatment, recovery occurs within two weeks. In addition to a longer recovery period, with II degree, pain is also stronger.

III degree . If a person has been in the cold for a long time and the tissues receive intense cold exposure, the consequences can be irreversible. Bubbles appear on the skin, but not with transparent contents, but with a bloody liquid. All elements of the skin perish, the nails come off the fingers. As a result, within three weeks, the skin on the affected areas is torn off, and scars appear instead, and the nails either grow with deformations or do not grow at all. Scarring of the skin can last up to a month.

IV degree . With an extremely long stay in the cold, a person can get frostbite of the most severe degree. In this case, tissue death occurs. However, the IV degree is terrible not only with dead skin, in especially serious cases damage to the bones and joints is observed, gangrene can develop. The consequences of such frostbite are irreversible, and in such cases, patients are amputated with damaged limbs.

First aid for frostbite

The degree of damage determines the treatment of frostbite. The first step is the same for all degrees: you need to pick up the victim from the cold and place in a warm room. With the mildest degree I, you can warm up the affected areas. This is done with gentle rubbing, massage or breathing. Then a gauze bandage is applied. Warming allows you to restore blood circulation, and a bandage - to prevent infection from entering the affected areas.

First aid for II-IV degree excludes rapid warming up. In case of severe damage, you should immediately call an ambulance. While the doctors are traveling, instead of warming up, a heat-insulating bandage should be applied, covered with a blanket with foil, which reflects internal heat according to the principle of a thermos. The bandage can be made from gauze and cotton. First, gauze is applied, then cotton wool, and this is repeated several times. Instead of cotton, you can use patches of woolen clothes, sweatshirts, etc. From above, a heat-insulating bandage is wrapped with a rubberized cloth, scarf or woolen shawl. Next, you need to fix frostbitten limbs. For this, any means at hand are suitable: pieces of boards, cardboard or plywood. They are applied over a heat-insulating bandage and carefully fixed with bandages, trying not to damage the affected areas.

Help with frostbite, regardless of degree, includes hot drinks and food. It is also recommended that victims be given aspirin and analgin, which will expand blood vessels and improve blood circulation.

One of the most common mistakes is rubbing with snow. Under no circumstances should this be done! Through the formed microcracks, an infection can get under the skin. It is also not worth making a fire and laying heating pads: intense heat will only worsen the course of frostbite. Rubbing with oil, fat or alcohol is also contraindicated.

Frostbite treatment

Treatment of the first degree of frostbite involves various therapies aimed at healing the affected areas. In particular, the use of electric light baths and UHF therapy is widespread. If frostbite of the extremities leads to the appearance of ulcers on the skin, dressings with antiseptic ointment are used.

With frostbite of the II degree, blisters with a clear liquid are opened. Doctors remove the epidermis and apply an antiseptic bandage. After healing, the patient is sent to physiotherapy. To prevent infection, injections of antibiotics of the penicillin group or streptomycin are usually prescribed.

More severe frostbite III-IV degrees involve the removal of dead tissue. In especially severe cases, the limbs have to be amputated. Treatment along with the rehabilitation process can take several months.

Frostbite in cold weather develops quickly and imperceptibly, bringing irreparable harm to human health. In such situations, it is important to help the person as soon as possible - before the arrival of doctors. You need to know what the first first aid for frostbite is in order to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious consequences.

What is frostbite and how severe is it?

Frostbite is the effect of low temperature on the human body, due to which the skin and underlying tissues are affected. This is a dangerous process that can lead to limb amputation. Such a cold injury should be treated as quickly as possible to prevent the development of irreparable complications.

Frostbite is divided into 4 degrees of severity depending on the depth of tissue damage. All types of injury differ in symptoms and treatments. Frostbite classification:

The 1st degree is characterized by blanching of the skin area, and after warming - reddening of the affected area. In this stage of frostbite, only the upper layers of the skin are affected. The frostbitten area may tingle, hurt, or swell. Local hypothermia develops;
The 2nd stage of frostbite includes all the symptoms of the 1st degree, but blisters are added to them, as with burns, with transparent contents. There are no scars in place of the blisters;
Grade 3 is characterized by necrosis of the entire thickness of the skin. With frostbite of this severity, the blisters are filled with bloody contents. The victim needs urgent treatment in a hospital;
Level 4 is the hardest. With it, the deepest damage to the skin and underlying tissues occurs. The first signs of deep frostbite - the damaged area becomes black. It has to be surgically removed, and a frostbitten leg or arm often needs to be amputated.

First aid for frostbite depends on the severity of the injury. First of all, it is necessary to determine the degree of frostbite in the patient in order to understand how to help him correctly.

How to understand that a person has received frostbite and needs help

First aid for frostbite should be provided as early as possible to avoid the development of more severe conditions. In order for emergency care to arrive in a timely manner, you need to know what the first signs of frostbite look like. It is necessary to provide assistance to the victim in such cases:

the patient complains of severe pain in the limbs, knees or other affected parts of the body;
the skin on the affected areas has a marble tint, there is a feeling of tingling and burning in the frostbite;
the victim has a very low body temperature;
when cooling, the limbs may swell;
blisters appear on the skin with clear or bloody contents;
with severe freezing, the victim is disoriented in space or is unconscious on the street.

Doctor's advice. If you notice a person with these symptoms on the street in frosty weather, immediately call an ambulance and try to provide first aid to the victim before the arrival of specialists

First aid rules for frostbite of varying severity

First aid for frostbite of limbs and other parts of the body is similar to first aid for burns, but has its own characteristics. And they must be taken into account, otherwise you can seriously harm the victim. The provision of first aid (PMP) for hypothermia and frostbite begins with the fact that the patient, as soon as possible, is transferred to a warm, safe place. Then you need to call an ambulance and try to alleviate the condition of the victim as much as possible. Properly rendered first aid for burns and frostbite can prevent the development of complications.

The algorithm of actions in the provision of first aid is as follows:

take the patient to a warm place, remove all wet, cold clothes and shoes from him;
cover with a blanket and drink a warm drink. Give the patient tea or milk, but coffee or alcohol is not allowed;
inspect the affected areas and determine the severity of frostbite. With mild frostbite, you can do a gentle massage of the damaged areas of the skin, but only if there are no blisters;
apply a clean bandage to the damaged areas with blisters and wait for the arrival of doctors;
help with burns, frostbite of the 3rd-4th degree is more complicated. The patient needs to be given an anesthetic, calm, apply a sterile bandage to the affected area.

Taking the right steps in dealing with frostbite can save a person's life. It is important to follow not only the procedure, but also the rules for providing assistance with hypothermia.

Rules for first aid for frostbite and hypothermia:

the person providing first aid must do everything carefully and quickly so as not to harm the patient;
it is impossible to do with frostbite rubbing with alcohol tinctures, oils or other solutions;
you can not open the bubbles yourself;
do not use a battery, hot bath, heating pad or open fire for warming.

First aid is an important step in the treatment of frostbite of different stages. This memo can be useful to everyone. By following the correct sequence of actions, you can alleviate the condition of the victim. But it should be remembered that careless and illiterate actions can harm the victim. Help with frostbite should be quick and correct.

Important! The correct determination of the severity of the injury is an important step in providing first aid for hypothermia.

In what situations it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance brigade

If a person froze something to himself, it is better to immediately seek medical help. But there are situations when it is necessary. It is necessary to involve specialists immediately in the following situations:

severe condition of the victim: lack of consciousness or disorientation;
if frostbite of limbs and other parts of the body occurred due to winter injuries in the mountains;
frostbite 3-4th degree of severity;
severe hypothermia, body temperature does not normalize for a long time;
lack of sensitivity in the affected area;
severe pain;
large affected area.

In such situations, you need to call an ambulance as soon as possible so that doctors can provide high-quality specialized care to the patient.

Is it possible to hope for folk remedies with frostbite

People often turn to traditional medicine for help if there are no suitable medicines at hand. But not everyone knows in which situations such methods of treatment are beneficial, and in which they are harmful. Folk methods of treatment can only cure mild degrees of injury.

It is effective to use calendula, chamomile or aloe compresses as first aid for frostbite. They relieve inflammation and stimulate the healing of affected skin areas. But it is impossible to cure frostbite with traditional medicine alone, especially if the damage is serious. At 3-4 degrees, inpatient treatment is necessary, since there is a high risk of infection of the wound or an increase in the area of the lesion.

Methods of treatment are chosen depending on the severity of frostbite. If there is an opportunity to consult a doctor, it is better to do it right away.

Frostbite Prevention

Prevention is always better and easier than cure. To protect yourself and your family from frostbite, it is enough to follow simple precautions when going outside in frosty weather. Preventive measures are as follows:

for children and adults, you need to choose the right outerwear and shoes. Things should be made of dense materials, and it is recommended to choose shoes with a sole of at least a centimeter;
dress in such a way that there are as few open areas of the body as possible so that the skin is less supercooled;
do not go out hungry and tired, do not let a weak child go out alone;
do not wear metal jewelry outside, do not give your child metal toys in winter. Pick up things that exclude contact of the naked body with metallic things or elements.