How do you deal with (mild) frostbite

Patty O Furniture

This looks like the right place (i hope) on how you deal with mild frostbite on the tips of your fingers, as i'm trying to find out for an older person with arthritis as it's very sore on them.

I'd say a lot of people have dealed with it on lots of occasions on skiing trips on how to avoid it as this person didnt realise it would hurt til later on:o

So any advice would be great.

Thanks.

Victor

First objective is to make sure the person is safe from immediate risks - get them out of the cold and wrapped up well. However, do NOT expose them to direct heat or rubbing to warm them up. Do not give them food or drink without medical advice.

Then contact a doctor or an ambulance.

http://firstaid.webmd.com/frostbite-treatment

There is the secondary risk of hypothermia, so this does need to be treated properly.

Patty O Furniture

Thanks, as that info will come in handy.

Fattes

Suffered one nasty bout of it on fingers, face and armpit (Open zip for the last one) :eek:

There is a big difference between Frostnip and Frost bite

Seek Medical advice as soon as possible as in Straight away the quicker the better.

The proper response is

Re Warm the effected area ONLY IF YOU CAN KEEP IT WARM heating and RE exposure will only make things worse

Do not use direct heat, heating pads, hairdryers etc as this will crack the skin. Place area under armpits or on stomach to warm it up.

Do not rub or aggravate the effected area or burst blisters etc.

Loosely apply clean sterile dressing to the area using cotton to separate the toes/Fingers etc

Doc's will treat with cream, pills and injections, amputation depending on the severity.