Frostbite freezes the skin. It can damage tissue below the skin, too. Most often, frostbite affects the toes, fingers, earlobes, chin, and tip of the nose.
Hypothermia is when body temperature drops below 96ºF. The body loses more heat than it can make. This usually occurs from staying in a cold place for a long time.
For Frostbite & Frostnip
Signs & Symptoms
- Cold, numb skin swells and feels hard and solid.
- Loss of function. Absence of pain.
- Skin color changes from white to red to purple. Blisters occur.
- Slurred speech.
Frostnip is a less serious problem. The skin turns white or pale and feels cold, but the skin does not feel hard and solid.
Causes
Frostbite and frostnip can occur when temperatures drop below freezing. Both can set in very slowly or very quickly. This will depend on how long the skin is exposed to the cold and how cold and windy it is.
For Hypothermia
Signs & Symptoms
With mild hypothermia, symptoms include: Shivering; slurred speech; memory lapses; and the abdomen and back feel cold.
With moderate hypothermia, shivering stops, but the skin feels ice cold and looks blue. The person may act confused, drowsy, very cranky, and/or stuporous. Muscles may be rigid and stiff. Pulse rate and breathing slow down.
With severe hypothermia, the person has dilated pupils, no response to pain, and loses consciousness. The person appears to be dead. Death occurs in half or more of persons with severe hypothermia.
Causes
- Exposure to cold temperatures (wet or dry). Many factors increase the risk. Examples are: Wet clothing or lying on a cold surface; circulation problems; diabetes; and old age. The elderly are more prone to hypothermia if they live in a poorly heated home and do not dress warm enough.
- This can be from 6 hours or less of exposure to cold water immersion. It can also be from water immersion or exposure on land to cold, wet weather near freezing for up to 24 hours.
- Shock.
Treatment
Self-care measures can treat frostnip. Prompt emergency medical care is needed for frostbite to keep the area affected from getting infected and to prevent the loss of a limb. Hypothermia needs emergency medical care.
Wind Chill Temperature
As the wind increases, the body is cooled at a faster rate. This causes the skin temperature to drop. Wind chill temperature combines outdoor air temperature and wind speed to give a temperature of what it feels like on the skin. The National Weather Service has a Wind Chill Chart that shows temperatures, wind speeds, and exposure times that cause frostbite. To get this, access www.nws.noaa.gov/om/windchill.
Self-Care / First Aid
First Aid for Frostbite and Hypothermia Before Emergency Care
- Gently move the person to a warm place and Call 9-1-1!
- Check for a response. (See Step 2 in First Aid Precautions.) Give Rescue Breaths and CPR, as needed.
- Loosen or remove wet and/or tight clothing. Remove jewelry.
- Don’t rub the area with snow or soak it in cold water.
- Warm the affected area by soaking it in a tub of warm water (101ºF to 104ºF) and an antiseptic solution, such as Betadine.
- Stop when the affected area becomes red, not when sensation returns. This should take about 45 minutes. If done too fast, thawing can be painful and blisters may develop.
- If warm water is not available, cover the person with blankets, coats, etc. or place the frostbitten body part in a warm body area, such as an armpit or on the abdomen (human heat) or use a blow dryer, if available.
- Keep exposed areas elevated, but protected.
- Don’t rub or massage a frostbitten area.
- Protect the exposed area from the cold. It is more sensitive to re-injury.
- Don’t break blisters.
First Aid for Frostnip
- Warm the affected area. This can be done a number of ways:
- Place cold fingers in armpits.
- Place cold feet onto another person’s warm stomach.
- Put the affected area in warm water (101ºF to 102ºF).
- After warming the area, the skin may be red and tingling. If it is not treated, frostnip can lead to frostbite.
- Protect the exposed area from the cold. It is more sensitive to re-injury.
Prevention
To Prevent Frostbite and Outdoor Hypothermia
- Stay indoors, as much as possible, when it is very cold and windy.
- Wear clothing made of wool or polypropylene. These fabrics stay warm even when wet. Layer clothing. Wear 2 or 3 pairs of socks instead of 1 heavy pair. Wear roomy shoes. Do not wear items that constrict the hands, wrists, or feet. n Wear a hat that keeps your head and ears warm. A major source of heat loss is through the head.