In this article signs of frostbite of an organism are shown. Recommendations about first-aid treatment at frostbite are provided. Also the advice, allowing to avoid overcooling and frostbite on a hard frost is given.
Close and damp clothes and footwear, physical overfatigue, the hunger, the compelled long motionless and uncomfortable position, previous holodovy trauma, weakening of an organism lead to frostbite on a frost as a result of the suffered diseases, perspiration of feet, chronic diseases of vessels of the bottom extremities and cardiovascular system, heavy mechanical damages with krovopotery, smoking and other.
The statistics testifies that almost all heavy frostbites which have led to amputation of extremities, occurred in a condition of strong alcoholic intoxication.
Under the influence of cold in fabrics there are the difficult changes which character depends on level and duration of decrease in temperature. At action of temperature is lower – 30oS major importance at frostbite has damaging action of cold directly on a fabric, and there is a death of cages. At temperature action to – 100-20os at which there comes the majority of frostbites conducting value have vascular changes in a type of a spasm of the smallest blood vessels. The blood-groove is as a result slowed down, terminated some fabric enzymes.
First aid at frostbites
First aid consists in the cooling termination, warming of an extremity, blood circulation restoration in the fabrics struck with cold and preventions of development of an infection. The first that it is necessary to make at frostbite signs – to deliver the victim in the next warm room, to remove the chilled footwear, socks, gloves. At the same time with carrying out actions of first aid it is necessary to call urgently the doctor, ambulance for rendering of medical assistance.
At frostbite of the I degree the cooled sites should be warmed before reddening by warm hands, a light massage, grindings by a woolen fabric, breath, and then to apply a wadded and gauze bandage.
At frostbite of the II-IV degree it is not necessary to do fast warming, massage or grinding. Apply the struck surface heatisolating bandage (a gauze layer, a thick layer of cotton wool, again a gauze layer, and from above an oilcloth or a rubberized fabric). The struck extremities fix by means of make-shifts (a plate, a piece of plywood, a dense cardboard), imposing and bandaging them over a bandage. As a heatisolating material it is possible to use quilted jackets, jerseys, a woolen fabric and so forth.
Victims are given hot drink, hot food, a small amount of alcohol, on a tablet of aspirin, analginum, on 2 tablets "No-shpa" and a papaverine.
It is not recommended to pound patients with snow as blood vessels of brushes and feet are very fragile and consequently their damage is possible, and arising micrograzes on skin promote infection introduction. It is impossible to use fast warming of the freezed extremities at a fire, uncontrolledly to apply hot-water bottles and to that similar sources of heat as it worsens the course of frostbite. Unacceptable and inefficient option of first aid – rubbing in of oils, fat, grinding by alcohol of fabrics at deep frostbite.
At the general cooling of easy degree the method 1 warming of the victim in a heat bath is rather effective at reference temperature of water 24oS which raise to normal body temperature.
At average and heavy extent of the general cooling with violation of breath and blood circulation of the victim it is necessary to take to hospital as soon as possible.
"Iron" frostbite
In practice the holodovy traumas arising at contact of warm skin with a cold metal subject meet also.
Fortunately, the "iron" wound seldom happens deep, but all the same it should be disinfected urgently. At first wash out it warm water, and then hydrogen peroxide. Being allocated vials of oxygen will remove the dirt which has got inside. After that try to stop bleeding. The haemo static sponge enclosed to a wound well helps, but it is possible to manage and the sterile bandage combined several times which needs to be pressed and held properly to a full stop of bleeding. But if a wound very big, it is necessary to address urgently to the doctor.
Happens that the stuck child doesn’t risk itself to come off an artful piece of iron, and loudly calls to the aid. Your correct actions will help to avoid deep wounds. Instead of tearing off skin "with meat", simply water the stuck place with warm water (but not too hot!). Having warmed, metal will surely release the unlucky captive.
Time conversation came about metal subjects, we will remind that on a frost they take away heat from the child. Therefore in the winter can’t give children of a shovel with metal handles. And metal parts of a sledge surely wind with a matter or close an old blanket. Don’t allow to go for a drive long to children on roundabouts and a swing, to climb on metal shells which are established in each yard. And surely protect their hands mittens.
Prevention of overcooling and frostbites
There are some simple rules which will allow you to avoid overcooling and frostbites on a hard frost:
– Don’t drink alcohol – alcoholic intoxication (however, as well as any other) actually causes big loss of heat, at the same time causing heat illusion. An additional factor is the impossibility to concentrate attention on frostbite signs.
– Don’t smoke on a frost – smoking reduces peripheral blood circulation, and thus does extremities by more vulnerable.
– Wear free clothes is promotes normal blood circulation. Put on as "cabbage" – thus between clothes layers always there are the layers of air which are perfectly keeping heat. The outer clothing surely should be waterproof.
– The close footwear, lack of an insole, crude dirty socks often serve as the main precondition for emergence of attritions and frostbite. Special attention to give footwear it is necessary for at whom feet often sweat. It is necessary to put warm insoles in boots, and instead of cotton socks to put on woolen – they absorb moisture, leaving feet dry.
– There is no on a frost without mittens, a cap and a scarf. The best option – mittens from a water-repellent and not blown fabric with fur inside. Gloves from natural materials though are convenient, but from a frost don’t rescue. Cheeks and a chin can be protected a scarf. In windy cold weather before an exit to the street open sites of a body grease with special cream.
– Don’t carry on a frost metal (including gold, silver) ornaments – rings, ear rings etc. First, metal cools down much quicker than a body to low temperatures owing to what "sticking" to skin with painful feelings and holodovy traumas is possible. Secondly, rings on fingers complicate normal blood circulation. In general on a frost try to avoid contact of naked skin to metal.
– Use the help of the friend – watch a face of the friend, especially behind ears, a nose and cheeks, behind any appreciable changes in color, and it or it will watch yours.
– Don’t allow the freezed place to freeze again is will cause much more considerable injuries of skin.
– Don’t remove on a frost footwear from the freezed extremities – they will swell and you can’t dress again footwear. It is necessary to reach a warm room as soon as possible. If hands froze – try to warm them under mice.
– Having come back home after long walk on a frost, be surely convinced of absence of frostbites of extremities, backs, ears, a nose etc. The neglected frostbite can lead to gangrene and the subsequent loss of an extremity.
– As soon as on walk you felt overcooling or freezing of extremities, it is necessary to come as soon as possible into any warm place – shop, cafe, an entrance – for warming and survey of potentially vulnerable places for frostbite.
– If at you the car far from the settlement or in the unfamiliar district for you decayed, it is better to remain in the car, to cause the help by phone or to wait, while on the road will pass other car.
– Hide from a wind – probability of frostbite on a wind much higher.
– Don’t wet skin – water carries out warmly much better than air. Don’t leave on a frost with damp hair after a shower. Wet clothes and footwear (for example, the person fell in water) it is necessary to remove, wipe water, at possibility to dress in dry and as soon as possible to deliver the person in heat. In the wood it is necessary to kindle a fire, to undress and dry up clothes, during this time vigorously doing physical exercises and being heated at fire.
– Happens it is useful on long walk on a frost to grasp with itself pair of replaceable socks, mittens and a thermos with hot tea. Before an exit to a frost it is necessary to eat – energy can be necessary for you.
– It is necessary to consider that at children heatregulation of an organism isn’t completely adjusted yet, and at elderly people and at some diseases this function happens is broken. These categories are more subject to overcooling and frostbites, and it should be considered when planning walk. Releasing the child to walk in a frost on the street, remember that it is desirable for it to come back each 15-20 minutes to heat and to be warmed.
Remember animals!
Dogs, as well as people, can receive overcooling and frostbites. In extreme situations they often should count only to the aid the owner because in some situations – for example, in the wood on hunting - hardly it is possible to meet the veterinarian. Therefore the duty of each owner of a dog – to possess necessary knowledge and skills to manage to assist not only and the companion, but also an injured dog. It is necessary to be attentive to a dog in time to distinguish a disease and to take measures most or to address to the veterinarian.
At frostbites first aid – the fastest warming. An affected site rub off alcohol, vodka or potassium permanganate and put warming bandage with cotton wool. It is quite good to give to drink a dog warm freshly brewed sweet tea.
V. Yavorsky.