With severe frostbite, rub the skin with snow. Do not rub with snow: what to do with frostbite? When heat is the enemy

12:32, 05.02.2019

Employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations explain how not to get frostbite at -40 and what to do if the body still suffered from abnormal cold weather.

Frostbite (frostbite) is tissue damage that occurs at low temperatures (usually below -10 ºС). It can be observed even at zero temperature if a person has lost too much heat.

First of all, protruding and insufficiently protected parts of the body suffer in the cold: ears, nose, cheeks, hands, feet.

Frostbite is caused by several factors:

Enhanced heat dissipation (harsh wind, high humidity, light clothing); local violation of microcirculation (tight shoes, prolonged immobility, forced position of the body);

Concomitant conditions that weaken the body's resistance to extreme influences (injury, blood loss, physical or emotional exhaustion, stress);

Vascular diseases.

Those who are in a state of alcoholic intoxication are most at risk of getting frostbite. This is due to partial or complete disorientation, a slowdown in response to stimuli, and a specific vegetative background.

Degrees and signs of frostbite

Depending on the temperature and time that a person spent in the cold, as well as on the nature of tissue damage, 4 degrees of frostbite are distinguished. Initial manifestations in all cases are similar: pallor and cooling of the skin; decreased sensitivity. After the appearance of the first general symptoms, symptoms specific to each degree of frostbite develop: It is characterized by mild soreness of the skin, after warming, intense redness and slight swelling are noted, peeling of the affected areas is possible without the development of necrosis. After 5-7 days, skin manifestations completely disappear. Within 24-48 hours, blisters of various sizes appear on the damaged areas of the skin, filled with transparent (serous) contents. Pain is intense, characterized by itching, burning of injured skin. With proper treatment, the skin condition is restored after 7-14 days, there are no cicatricial deformities at the site of the lesion. There is a necrosis of the damaged skin, which leads to a loss of sensitivity and the formation of massive painful blisters with a purple-cyanotic base filled with bloody contents after warming. Subsequently, the blisters become necrotic and slough off with the formation of scars and granulations. Scarring can last up to a month, and rejection of the nail plates also occurs, sometimes irreversible. It is manifested by total necrosis of not only the skin, but also the underlying soft tissues (up to the bones and joints). Injured areas of the skin are bluish, after warming a sharply increasing edema is formed, there are no blisters, the sensitivity of the skin after warming is not restored, gangrene subsequently develops. The affected areas are subject to amputation. With a long stay at low temperatures, general hypothermia is possible, as evidenced by a decrease in body temperature to 34 ºС and lower (up to 29-30 ºС in severe cases). Depending on the severity, the condition is manifested by inhibition of the activity of the respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems of varying intensity, up to coma and death.

First aid for frostbite

In case of damage of any intensity, it is first of all necessary to deliver the victim to a warm room as soon as possible. If there is a possibility of repeated frostbite, the injured part of the body should not be allowed to thaw; otherwise, it should be carefully covered. Further actions depend on the degree of frostbite.

In case of frostbite of the 1st degree, it is required: to warm the affected areas of the skin (by breathing, gently rubbing with a soft woolen cloth or hands); apply a warming cotton-gauze bandage in several layers.

In case of frostbite II–IV degree, it is necessary: ​​to exclude rapid warming (massage, rubbing); apply a heat-insulating bandage (bandage and cotton wool in several layers, you can use scarves, woolen fabric, scarves); fix a frostbitten limb; call an ambulance. It is recommended to give the victim hot drink and food, you can take Aspirin, Analgin with Papaverine or Noshpa to improve blood microcirculation.

What can not be done with frostbite?

Rub the frostbitten surface with snow, a hard cloth (there is a high probability of injury and subsequent infection of damaged skin);

Expose the place of frostbite to intense thermal effects (using a hot bath, heating pad, heater, etc.);

Rubbing damaged skin with oil, fat, alcohol, as this can complicate the course of the disease;

Self-open blisters and remove necrotic tissue.

When should you see a doctor?

At home, it is possible to treat only frostbite I degree; in all other cases, you need to seek specialized help.

With frostbite of the II degree, the opening of the blisters and their processing are carried out in the conditions of the surgical room. To prevent infection, an aseptic bandage is applied and appropriate therapy is prescribed.

With frostbite III-IV degree in a hospital, necrotic tissues are removed, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial therapy is carried out.

Photo: Alexander Cherepanov, BR archive.

Frostbite refers to damage to the body (parts of the body) under the influence of cold. The main reason for this kind of damage to the skin (and even subcutaneous tissue) is persistent changes in blood vessels caused by their prolonged spasm, which is a protective reaction of the body to cooling.

Frostbite can occur not only in frosty weather, but also at air temperatures around zero, especially when it is damp and windy.

A sign of a spasm of blood vessels that has reached a dangerous degree is loss of sensation and whitening of the skin. It should be noted that among the factors contributing to frostbite is wearing tight clothes that impede blood circulation and especially shoes, as well as wet clothes, shoes, gloves, weakening of the body as a result of illness, blood loss, etc. Of course, frostbitten body parts spoil the appearance .

What should be done to enable the skin to quickly return to its original appearance?

Affected areas of the body should not be lubricated with fat or ointments - this aggravates cooling and can injure the skin. Moreover, you can not rub the skin with snow.

With the first degree of frostbite, the whitened area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin must be rubbed with warm hands until redness appears. When rubbing, you can use alcohol, vodka or cologne. With more severe frostbite (frostbite), a dry, sterile, preheated bandage should be applied.

Of the folk methods of treating frostbite, the following will be useful.

# Ginger. Grate 1/4 teaspoon (fresh) and swallow or drink one glass of ginger wine.

# Viburnum ordinary. Boil 15 g of viburnum berries in 750 ml of water, divide into 3 servings and drink throughout the day.

# Outwardly, 2 times a day, drip fresh, lemon juice or juice of squeezed celandine on closed or open frostbitten places.

"Affected areas of the body should not be lubricated with fat or ointments - this aggravates cooling and can injure the skin. Moreover, you should not rub the skin with snow."

# Large celandine. Lubricate frostbitten skin with its juice. But lubrication should be double. After the first lubrication, after 1-2 minutes, lubricate the same area again, rubbing the juice into the skin. With this method of treatment, celandine juice penetrates deep into the tissues, so healing is faster.

# Prepare the composition: buds of birch, poplar, bird cherry - 1 tablespoon each, 1 tablespoon of “bleached oil” (his recipe: crushed fresh henbane leaves are moistened in a solution of ammonia in a ratio of 1: 1 and infused in vegetable oil in a ratio of 1: 5), 1 tablespoon of turpentine, 1 tablespoon of alcohol. Mix everything, insist 3 weeks. Lubricate frostbitten areas of the skin 2 times a day, followed by wrapping.

# Calendula officinalis (marigolds). It is recommended to apply a compress 1-2 times a day for 30 minutes for 10-12 days (1 teaspoon of strong infusion or tincture of calendula per 500 ml of water). This remedy is considered good in the treatment of frostbite, especially since it prevents scarring.

# pharmaceutical camomile. Prepare an infusion: pour 1 tablespoon of chamomile flowers with 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain and use as a lotion. The infusion is also desirable to take orally 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

These funds contribute to the expansion of blood vessels, stimulating blood circulation in frostbite areas of the skin.

"At the first sign of frostbite (frostbite), you should come to a warm room as soon as possible and drink hot tea or coffee, but not alcohol."

If frostbite occurred far from the premises (in nature), in this case, the body can be warmed up by the fire, shoes and gloves are removed. Very important gentle massage, rubbing the affected part of the body. Massage is performed from the fingertips to the center of the body, while recommending that the victim move frostbitten limbs.

Frostbitten parts of the body can be warmed up in a bath, the water temperature in which is gradually (over 20-30 minutes) brought to 35-40 °C. It is highly desirable to add potassium permanganate or furatsilin to the water. The victim's stay in the bath and massage continue until signs of restored blood circulation appear in the cooled extremities (change in skin color to normal). The patient is given hot food, if necessary, warmed with heating pads, a warm blanket.

Stop the bleeding

arterial bleeding - bright red (scarlet) blood is ejected in a strong, jerky-pulsing jet; a large blood stain on clothing or a pool of blood near the wounded. If large arteries are damaged, blood loss incompatible with life can occur within a few minutes.

Immediately press on an artery fingers (fist) to the bone above the wound ( on the limbs- above the wound on the neck and head- below the wound or in the wound, do not press in the place where the bones are damaged);

Raise the injured limb; in the absence of a fracture, bend as much as possible;

- apply a tourniquet in the absence of a tourniquet, tighten the limb with a twist (belt):

- superimposed on clothes(the cloth) above the wound but as close as possible in it - lead by the limb and stretch, pull with the first turn and apply the next turns with less effort, fasten the tourniquet, put a note on the time the tourniquet was applied, do not cover it with a bandage or clothing;

- on the neck tourniquet is applied without pulse control and leave until the doctor arrives, the wound must be sealed;

- on the thigh the tourniquet is applied through a solid object, after which it will be verified that there is no pulse in the popliteal fossa;

- if the tourniquet is incorrectly applied ( blue and swelling of the limb, swelling of the veins ) - immediately remove and reapply.

Treat the wound and apply a sterile bandage;

Ensure rest in the “lying” position, cover the victim and insulate the wounded limb (especially in cold weather), give a warm sweet drink (if there is no abdominal injury);

- (after 1-1.5 hours in summer and 30 minutes in winter, gently loosen the tourniquet for 10-15 minutes by pressing the artery with your finger, then apply above (below) the place of application).

Venous bleeding - dark cherry blood is poured out in a uniform continuous stream.

Apply a pressure bandage;

When a limb is injured, bend or lift it up as much as possible;

Deliver to a medical facility.

capillary bleeding - Blood oozes like a sponge and usually stops on its own.

Put a bandage on the wound;

If possible, raise the wounded limb up;

To stop capillary bleeding, you can treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide.

Internal bleeding (in the head, chest, abdomen) can only be stopped on the operating table.

Signs: weakness, dizziness, ringing in the ears, darkening of the eyes, pallor.

Put the cold transport immediately to a medical facility.

Major blood loss - lay the victim on his back, raise his arms and legs. If there is no wound in the stomach - drink plenty of sweet tea or water with salt or sugar. Necessary urgent infusion of blood or a substitute.

FRACTURES OF LIMB

Signs of an open fracture: the presence of a wound, often with bleeding; deformity and swelling of the limb; bone fragments are visible.

Signs of a closed fracture: severe pain with movement or load on the limb; deformity and swelling of the limb; cyanotic skin color; limb mobility in an unusual place, its unnatural position.

1. Release from the impact of traumatic factors. Stop the bleeding.

2. Give pain medication as soon as possible.

3. Bandage the wound.

4. Fix the limb with splints.

5. Cover the victim, especially in cold weather.

Bus rules: The splint is applied on both sides of the body and should cover the joints above and below the fracture site. It is tied tightly, evenly, but not tight over clothes and shoes; in places of bone protrusions, a soft material is placed. You can not bandage the tire with a bandage at the level of the fracture.

In the absence of a splint, you can bandage the injured leg to the healthy one, and the arm in a bent position to the body with a scarf or bandage.

At fracture of fingers and hand- give the fingers a half-bent position (put a dense lump of cotton into the palm), apply a splint from the ends of the fingers to the elbow from the side of the palm. Hang your hand on a scarf.

At forearm fracture- turn the arm bent at the elbow joint with the palm to the chest and fix it with two tires on the inner and outer sides from the fingertips to the elbow joint. Hang your hand on a scarf.

At shoulder fracture- put a splint on the area of ​​​​the forearm and shoulder, hang the arm bent at the elbow joint on a scarf and bandage it to the body. At shoulder or shoulder injury- hang the arm bent at the elbow joint on the belt (palm to the stomach), put the roller into the armpit, bandage the arm to the body.

At clavicle fracture- immobilize with a bandage, cotton-gauze rings; for a short time is fixed with a stick placed behind the back.

At foot fracture and ankle injury- The splint is applied along the inner and outer surfaces from the upper third of the lower leg to the sole and fingertips.

At tibia fracture- The splint is applied along the inner and outer surfaces from the upper third of the thigh to the sole and fingertips.

At hip fracture- tires are superimposed: on the inner surface from the groin to the sole, on the outer surface - from the armpit to the sole.

FRACTURE OF THE SPINE AND PELVIC BONES

Signs of a spinal fracture: back pain at the slightest movement, loss of sensation in the legs (the victim does not feel a pin prick).

1. Calm the victim, administer painkillers, provide first aid for other injuries. DO NOT move the victim, take off his clothes and allow him to move.

2. Transport only on a stretcher with hard bedding (on a shield, door, etc.); in the absence of a hard bedding, transportation lying on the stomach.

At cervical fracture spine to apply a massive cotton-gauze bandage in the form of a collar.

Signs of a pelvic fracture: frog posture, pelvic pain, inability to sit down and stand up, sticky heel syndrome), inability to raise a straight leg.

Lay the victim on a hard, flat surface (shield), bend the legs into the “frog” position, put a tight roller under the knees. Transportation - on a solid shield.

If a cervical spine injury is suspected, without moving the victim, wrap the neck loosely in several layers with a ribbon of towels, paper (newspaper) 12-14 cm wide to provide support (support) for the back of the head and chin. Secure (loosely) with a bandage or belt.

POISONING

FOOD, ALCOHOL AND DRUG POISONING

SIGNS - weakness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, cold sweat, dizziness, headache, shortness of breath, convulsions, fever.

1. Gastric lavage.

2. Give 10 tablets or 1 tablespoon of activated charcoal with water. In its absence - grated crackers, starch, chalk, charcoal. As a laxative - 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or saline laxative.

3. When the condition improves, give tea or coffee, provide warmth, peace.

4. In case of loss of consciousness and pulse - START REANIMATION.

In case of poisoning with caustic, burning substances, urgent hospitalization is necessary.

THERMAL BURNS

Substitute the burn area under a stream of cold water (lower it into water) or apply snow, ice or other cold for 15-20 minutes ( with first and second degree burns without violating the integrity of the blisters);

Treat the burn with panthenol;

Apply a special napkin or clean gauze (bandage), secure with a loose bandage;

Cold at the burn site;

Anesthesia;

Plentiful drink (for 1 liter of water, a teaspoon of salt or soda);

In case of severe burns, transport to a medical facility.

DO NOT: lubricate the burn with ointments or grease, open and remove blisters, tear off adhering clothes and foreign bodies, put cotton on the burn, rinse the opened blisters with water, sprinkle with powders.

IF CLOTHES ARE ON FIRE:

Eliminate exposure to fire, throw off burning clothes;

Lay the victim down and roll him on the ground (snow) or quickly cover with a thick cloth (jacket, raincoat, raincoat OZK);

Cool the burns in water, snow for at least 10 minutes until the pain subsides;

Do not pull off burnt clothes, but cut them into pieces, leave the baked ones on the body.

Frostbite

signs: skin is pale, hard and cold, no pulse at the wrists and ankles, loss of sensation, when tapped with a finger - a "wooden sound".

1. Take the victim to a room with a low temperature. Do not remove clothes and shoes from frostbitten limbs.

2. Immediately cover the injured limbs from external heat with a cooled heat-insulating bandage. External warming of frostbitten parts must not be accelerated. Warmth should arise inside with the restoration of blood circulation.

3. Give plenty of warm drink, small doses of alcohol.

4. Give 1-2 tablets of analgin and deliver to the medical unit.

DO NOT rub frostbitten skin, place frostbitten limbs in warm water or cover them with heating pads, lubricate the skin with oil or petroleum jelly.

DROWNING

Normal ("blue" type)

signs- the skin of the face and neck with a bluish tinge, swelling of the vessels of the neck, profuse foamy discharge from the mouth and nose.

1. Immediately after removing the drowned person from the water, turn his face down and lower his head below the pelvis.

2. Clear your mouth of mucus and other things. Press firmly on the root of the tongue. When vomiting and cough reflexes appear, achieve complete removal of water from the respiratory tract and stomach.

3. If the victim is conscious, cover and warm him. Call a doctor.

There are a number of measures that need to be taken in case of frostbite and hypothermia. But what can not be done with different degrees of frostbite? After all, the wrong help can lead to serious consequences.

What to do?

First of all, if a person has frostbite on his ears, nose, cheeks, legs or hands, he should be taken to the room. After that, replace frozen outerwear, shoes, mittens and socks with dry ones. In order for him to be completely warm, wrap him in a warm blanket or blanket, give a cup of warm tea. If there are suspicions of extensive lesions of the skin or if the condition of the victim worsens, an ambulance should be called.

An important point in first aid is that the frozen area does not need to be warmed quickly. With a sharp change in temperature, the walls of blood vessels and the epidermis are injured, which leads to complications.

1 degree

In the first degree of frostbite, slight changes in the skin are observed. The skin of the ears, nose, arms, legs and other parts of the body turns white and sensitivity is lost. With the right help, there are no consequences.

The victim should be immediately taken to the room, gently rub the frostbitten areas with your hands or warm with your breath. This will help restore circulation.

2 degree

The person needs medical help. Before the arrival of the doctors, it is necessary to bring him to a warm room, take off his outer clothing and put on dry and warm clothes.

In the second degree, bubbles with transparent contents may appear on the injured area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin. It is strictly forbidden to pierce them, since an open wound can cause infection and blood poisoning.

3 degree

There are more serious changes. A person feels a strong chill, the frostbitten area loses sensitivity, and the skin turns white. The process of tissue death begins.

Blisters with blood contents appear on the skin, after healing of which scars and scars remain. If you suspect a third degree of frostbite, you should immediately call an ambulance. Before the arrival of doctors, a warming bandage should be applied to the injured area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin. It should consist of several layers: 2-3 layers of bandage, cotton wool, cotton fabric (cardboard is also suitable), bandage. Each layer should be thicker than the previous one.

Wrap the victim in a warm blanket and give a cup of warm tea. In some cases, a person may lose consciousness. Ammonia will help bring him to his senses.

4 degree

The most severe damage to the skin, which requires urgent medical attention. Most often, a person is unconscious, cardiac arrest can be observed. In this case, artificial respiration and heart massage should be done, outer clothing should be removed from the victim, a special bandage should be applied to the damaged areas of the skin and wrapped with a blanket.

Properly provided medical care can save a person's life and save limbs. If a person has lost consciousness and is in a critical condition, it is very important not to lose self-control and do everything possible before the doctors arrive.

What is prohibited in all types?

Some mistakes can be made while providing assistance. It is for this reason that you need to know not only what to do, but also what absolutely cannot be done.

Incorrectly or poorly rendered assistance leads to serious consequences up to death.

When frostbite of any degree is strictly prohibited:

• Ignore the fact of injury;

Most people who get first or second degree frostbite don't realize the seriousness of the situation. In the third and fourth degree, the victim needs to urgently call an ambulance. Ignoring frostbite of the limbs, ears, cheeks or nose leads to more damage.

• Rub the injured area with snow;

The use of snow is strictly prohibited. This is due to the fact that when exposed to cold, the upper layer of the epidermis and the walls of blood vessels are injured and thinner. Additional exposure to cold leads to extensive damage. In addition, snow cannot be sterile clean, and wounds and microcracks appear on the skin, through which microbes enter, causing infection.

• Use fatty ointments and creams;

Ointments should be used before going outside, but not after. They create a film on the surface of the skin, preventing oxygen from entering the pores.

• Puncture the formed bubbles;

After mechanical damage to the blisters, wounds form through which the infection can enter. As a result, sepsis develops, wounds heal for a long time. Also, after healing, scars and scars will remain on the skin.

• Warm the affected area with hot water;

After the limb loses sensitivity, as a result of which, after exposure to hot water, you can get a burn. In addition, a sharp temperature drop leads to even greater damage to the skin and blood vessels.

• Try to put a load on the injured part of the body;

With any degree of frostbite, heavy physical exertion is strictly prohibited. In the case when the hand or foot has become cold and has lost sensitivity, you can move your fingers to warm up. With a more severe lesion, active movements are prohibited, as this can cause serious consequences.

• smoking;

Together with the smoke of cigarettes, a person will begin to inhale cold air, which will lead to a decrease in blood circulation and even more freezing.

• Consume alcohol.

Alcohol does not help to warm up, but only expands the injured vessels, which provokes their rupture. As a result, there is an even greater loss of heat and oxygen starvation of vital organs. Rubbing alcohol can only be used when the affected area is already warm.

With frostbite, you can not do the victim and various compresses. It is best to give a cup of not hot tea, leave it in a warm room and call the doctors.

Why it is impossible to rub frostbitten places and how to avoid hypothermia?

To protect the body from hypothermia and frostbite, a number of preventive measures should be observed.

1. Do not go outside after drinking alcohol.
2. If it's cold, stay at home. If this is not possible, take all safety measures and do not stay in the cold for a long time.
3. Don't smoke in the cold.
4. Do not walk on an empty stomach. An exhausted body will not be able to fully produce heat.
5. Do not wear too tight clothing. There must be air between the shirt and the warm jacket. It is better to use underwear made of cotton, but not synthetic.
6. Do not wear wet or tight shoes, wear pure wool socks. They absorb moisture better.
7. Do not go out into the cold without mittens. Hands must always be protected.
8. Rings, earrings and other metal jewelry are not recommended to be worn at a temperature of -30 degrees.
9. In case of frost, use special protective creams. They will help soften the effect of cold air.
10. On a walk in the company, watch the faces of your comrades and, at the first sign of frostbite, be sure to take action.
11. Hands should be warmed in the armpits, but without rubbing them or patting each other.
12. Do not stay in cold wind for a long time. It is he who most often causes frostbite.
13. Do not go outside with wet hair, after a shower or bath.

If your clothes get wet, take them off and wring them out. Wearing cold or wet shoes is also impossible.

In cases where there is no spare underwear, put it back on and do exercises so that the body does not cool down. Then immediately seek help from passers-by or a medical facility.

Frostbite of any degree carries a certain danger to human life and health. Many people know what measures should be taken in case of frostbite, but not everyone can understand what to do is strictly prohibited. Properly provided medical care will help maintain a person's health and avoid serious consequences in the form of amputation of limbs as a result of frostbite.

Causes

Not only low temperatures cause various frostbite of the skin. Complicating factors in the form of chronic diseases, exhaustion, pregnancy or infancy exacerbate the situation. In this case, the main causes of freezing lie in the following:

• out-of-season clothes- do not give up scarves and hats if it's cold outside. In winter, it is worth replacing ordinary underwear with thermal products, and changing cotton socks to woolen ones. Shoes should not be tight, and if they also let water through or contribute to the greenhouse effect, then freezing is guaranteed;
• vascular disease- with poor blood circulation, a person freezes faster. Thrombosis, varicose veins, VVD - all this refers to adverse factors;
• refusal to use protective equipment- open areas of the skin should be treated with special creams and ointments that will protect hands and face from frostbite. Professional compositions carefully care for the skin of the nose and around the eyes. It is these areas that are considered less protected;
• drinking alcohol- if you drink "hot" drinks in the cold, the risk of hypothermia increases. The body loses heat faster, and a drunk person does not understand that he is freezing. There are cases when drunk people freeze in the cold, falling asleep after a large dose of alcohol.

Fans of winter fishing or country walks in the cold season can freeze their limbs with ice. And skiers or snowboarders often develop high speeds during the training process.

Avitaminosis, poor nutrition, previous blood loss are also factors that favor freezing. Older people get colder. The same applies to people with diabetes and liver disease.

Symptoms

Vary, but common symptoms of frostbite include:

• tingling and itching;
• the skin turns pale and becomes cold to the touch;
• there is a pronounced pain syndrome;
• when warmed, the tissues turn red and swell.

These are the first signs of frostbite, which indicate the initial freezing of the upper layers of the skin. As the effect of the cold agent develops more dangerous symptoms: blisters, loss of sensation, cyanosis. The formation of bubbles is typical for 2 and 3 degrees of frostbite. Skin areas deprived of normal blood supply turn black. Due to necrotic processes, the risk of mummification increases.

Frostbite of the skin on the face is accompanied by peeling and a feeling of numbness. Basically, people experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing through the nose, inability to move their lips. The face becomes pale and cold, the skin is hard to the touch, which indicates the second degree of frostbite.

The more the victim stays in the cold, the higher the likelihood that internal systems and organs will suffer. At stages 2-3, the work of the kidneys worsens, vasospasm occurs. If the skin color of a frostbite darkens, necrosis is suspected.

First aid

The main help for various frostbite of the skin is to change the temperature regime, that is, the victim must be taken to a warm room. It is almost impossible to provide adequate PMF in the cold. It is impossible to quickly warm a person, that is, hot baths and compresses are prohibited. If the limbs are affected, they can be placed in dry heat, but do not cover them with heating pads or lubricate the skin with oil. Fatty creams and ointments should be used before frostbite occurs, not after.

The next course of action is:

• change clothes to dry and warm;
• give a hot drink, preferably sweetened;
• provide peace;
• make a heat-insulating bandage on the damaged area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin.

In case of frostbite of the body, when the victim has changes in the form of blisters on the skin, it is necessary to treat the skin with an antiseptic and apply a gauze or bandage bandage. Bubbles cannot be opened. Also, in the presence of blisters, do not rub and do not lubricate the skin with frostbite ointments without the consent of the doctor.

It is determined by the severity of pathological processes. With mild forms of freezing, the victim is warmed as quickly as possible. To do this, make a massage, rub the skin with a soft dry cloth or scarf. Starting from the second stage of frostbite, these methods are abandoned in favor of passive rewarming. Otherwise, the number of complications will be higher.

If a person has a loss of orientation, it is not recommended to give a drink until he fully returns to consciousness, otherwise he may choke. Another thing not to do with frostbite is to drink alcohol. But if the skin is intact, there are no blisters and it is small, it is allowed to rub the limbs with vodka and wrap yourself in a blanket. But rubbing frostbitten skin with snow is useless. The method has no scientific justification, and excessive contact with cold and not too clean snow can aggravate the situation.

What to do with severe frostbite? Actions before the arrival of the ambulance are to reduce the harm from the cold agent. If a person is in pain, they are offered a non-narcotic analgesic. Affected people should adhere to bed rest. What to do with frostbite of the skin of the face, if blisters filled with liquid appear? In this case, a gauze bandage, which is made from several layers, will also help, cutting out holes for the eyes and nose.

With a small injury, warming does not take much time, but when the skin is severely frostbitten, the victim's condition worsens even after PMP. Why do the limbs darken if they begin to warm? Pathological processes have their own inertia and cannot stop immediately after the cessation of cold exposure. In this case, you can not do without qualified medical care.

Is it possible to rub frostbitten skin

Rubbing the skin with frostbite is allowed, because this is an effective and affordable way to quickly improve blood circulation. But is it possible to rub frostbitten skin with a washcloth or brush?? This method is aggressive and causes trauma to the integument. Rub with a soft cloth or dry knitwear. With blisters and wounds, rubbing is prohibited. Treatment of frostbite with blisters and blisters involves preliminary sanitation. Sometimes surgical treatment of injured areas is required. Then efforts are directed to restore the integrity of the skin after frostbite.

With strong cold exposure, which caused a lesion of 3 or 4 degrees, antibiotics of systemic and local action, detoxification solutions and angioprotectors are given. Frostbite ointments are used at the recovery stage to improve repair, prevent scarring and activate metabolic processes in skin cells. With the development of inflammatory processes, such agents as erythromycin or chloramphenicol ointment, Vishnevsky liniment, etc. are indicated.

Complications and consequences

The negative consequences of frostbite of the skin include cosmetic defects - scars, granulations, scars and dermatological diseases. Often, severe frostbite is accompanied by secondary infections. In damaged areas, blood supply worsens, sensitivity to cold increases.

Vascular diseases are not uncommon, and necrotic processes that require amputation of the affected limbs are recognized as the most severe complications.

Prevention

As a prevention of frostbite of the skin, various methods of hardening, vitamin therapy, self-massage are used. Properly selected clothing will become adequate protection from the cold, and frostbite creams will be able to additionally protect exposed skin.

Drugs with proven efficacy used for preventive purposes are considered "Helen", Safe and Care, "". You can use regular fatty creams and ointments. It is important that they are not water-based, otherwise the low temperatures will cause even more damage to the skin.

Dear readers of the 1MedHelp website, if you have any questions on this topic, we will be happy to answer them. Leave your feedback, comments, share stories of how you survived a similar trauma and successfully coped with the consequences! Your life experience may be useful to other readers.