Frostbite occurs when skin is exposed to temperatures below freezing for a long period of time. When it’s cold outside, you may start to feel the effects of frostbite. The most common symptoms are numbness or pain in the affected area, redness and discoloration, and hardening or swelling. If you think that you have frostbite, go see your doctor immediately! They will determine if there is any tissue damage. This article will discuss signs that indicate frostbite might be coming on, how to prevent it from happening in the first place, and what steps to take if it does happen!
Symptoms of Oncoming Frostbite
Frostbite will set in, in 30 minutes when skin is exposed in temperatures below zero. It will first feel cold with a prickling feeling in the exposed skin. The skin will start to turn a different color. The most common is red, but your skin could also turn grey, yellow, blue, or white and will feel stiff and waxy. These are beginning symptoms. Your joints and extremities will be stiff, so it will be hard to move, balance and function.
This can happen with unexposed skin as well, but mainly in the exposed parts of your body. Your skin can break, blister, and feel warm in severe cases. It should not start to feel warm or hot; those are extreme symptoms and should be treated immediately.
Treatment For Frostbite
The first thing to do is get to a warm place. Anywhere inside a building, near a fire, in a tent. Somewhere that is either room temperature or even above freezing temperatures (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Do not dip the affected area in hot water; that will burn and hurt the situation. What you want to do is dip your hands in room temperature water. You could also get a wet washcloth and cover the affected area in that as well. Slowly work your way up in temperature until the area starts to feel normal again.
Severe frostbite can feel like stinging, burning, and swelling. If you think that you have severe frostbite, go see your doctor immediately. They will determine if there is any tissue damage. If so, they may need to put you on an IV and give you antibiotics. You might also need surgery if the frostbite goes deep into the tissues.
