Frostbite
Marin County Sheriff's Office, Division
of Search and Rescue
Frostbite is a localized injury that results from environmentally induced
freezing of body tissue. Frostbite occurs in cold environments, most
often in combination with pressure being applied to the affected area,
such as a tight fitting boot or glove. During frostbite ice crystals
form in the tissue.
1. Frostnip
-this is the most mild form of Frostbite. Patient
will feel a tingling sensation or pain when re-warming, however,
there will be no tissue damage.
2. Superficial Frostbite
a. Signs and symptoms
-May include coolness and numbness to affected area.
This is followed by extreme pain (tingling and throbbing) during re-warming.
-When affected part is frozen, it may have little
appearance of any injury.
-Edema will usually appear three hours after re-warming.
-Blisters appear in 3 to 24 hours that will turn
black a peel off in a week.
-Once an area has been affected by frostbite it
will be susceptible to repeated frostbite injury.
3. Deep Frostbite
a. Signs and symptoms
-In deep frostbite, the disrupted nutritional capillary
flow is never restored to the patients damaged tissue.
-Affected area will remain cold, mottled, and blue
or gray after re-warming.
-Affected area will turn black, hard ester, unlike
superficial frostbite edema is slow to form.
-Eventually patient may loose large areas of affected
tissue.
b. Treatment
-Do not attempt field re-warming in the pre hospital
setting due to the risk of re-freezing.
-Rapid re-warming in the hospital setting is the
most effective way of protecting viable tissue.
-Splint area as if a fracture.
-Elevate affected area.
-Remove restrictive and wet clothing, guard against
hypothermia.
-If patient's lower extremities are frozen, he/she
should not be permitted to walk.
-Never rub the affected area or apply first aid
creams.
-Treat for shock and monitor vital signs.
c. Prevention
-Make sure boots, gloves and clothing fit comfortably.
Frostbite is due to excessive pressure on the affected areas in most
cases.
-Keep clothing dry in freezing conditions
-If toes or other affected areas feel cold, don't
hesitate to check them for frostbite.
-If you have had frostbite, or areas of poor circulation,
you may be prone to get frostbite in freezing conditions. Take
precautions.
Prepared
by Michael
St. John
The following lesson plans and training sheets are all
Marin Training Division original material. We have decided to share this
information with others to increase the competency and professionalism
of search and rescue community. Lesson plans by themselves by no means
make a complete class. Instructors who choose to use our material should
be thoroughly knowledgeable in the topic. Lesson plans are only to support
the instructor in being systematic and thorough. We also acknowledge that
we still have much to learn and that our lesson plans may be less than
prefect. We invite you to help us improve our training by sending your
comments to us. The Marin County Sheriff's Office and Search and Rescue
Team cannot be held liable to the for the following lesson plans. We also
request that the training information not be used in any way to make money.
Thank you for your cooperation |
