Frostbite is a special case of burn injuries that, while not uncommon, is little known by most people.
Frostbite typically occurs in regions with harsh climates and low temperatures. Vietnam, located in a tropical climate, is currently experiencing severe cold weather, especially in the northern areas where temperatures have dropped below 0 degrees Celsius. If we do not take proper care to keep our bodies warm, we can easily fall victim to dangerous health conditions.
Frostbite, like other types of burns, poses significant dangers such as swelling leading to cell damage, and wounds becoming necrotic, particularly in environments where frostbite is untreated for too long. This can lead to seizures, lowered body temperature, altered consciousness, and even death.
What Are the Levels of Frostbite?
A person with second-degree frostbite.
According to the Mayo Clinic, frostbite is a medical term for injuries caused when skin and tissues freeze due to exposure to extreme cold. It typically occurs in body parts far from the core, such as fingers, toes, nose, ears, chin, and cheeks. Initially, the patient’s skin will feel cold and turn red, followed by numbness, stiffness, and paleness. Frostbite can also occur on skin that is covered by gloves or clothing.
Similar to water turning to ice as the temperature drops, fingers, hands, toes, and feet, as well as the nose and ears, can freeze if exposed to extremely cold weather or when touching very cold objects (ice, metal). The extremities are more susceptible to frostbite due to reduced blood flow.
We can also suffer from frostbite if we do not wear warm enough clothing or if our clothes are too tight, restricting blood flow to distant areas. The onset of frostbite varies depending on the level of cold and wind exposure.
Business Insider reports that at -28.3 degrees Celsius, exposure to cold wind for 30 minutes can cause frostbite. In environments at -37.2 degrees Celsius, frostbite can occur after just 10 minutes of exposure. In extreme cold weather, frostbite can happen in as little as 5 minutes.
Like other types of burns, frostbite is categorized into various levels from mild to severe:
- Level 1: This is the mildest level, where the affected area will experience itching and pain, and the skin may turn red or yellow with temporary loss of sensation. This level poses minimal danger, and recovery is typically very quick after first aid.
- Level 2: At this level, the affected area becomes hardened, affecting only the outer skin layers without damaging deeper tissues, so it remains soft. Blisters may appear, and the skin may turn black and hard. Recovery from this level can take up to a month, and the affected area may lose sensitivity to hot and cold.
- Levels 3 and 4: These levels are the most dangerous and can easily lead to necrosis. Injuries at these levels involve complete damage to deep tissues, muscles, blood vessels, tendons, and nerve cells, which may freeze or die. The skin in the affected area will gradually turn black and become filled with blood, leading to necrosis. Normally, amputation of the affected limb or removal of the necrotic area is necessary at these levels.
First Aid and Treatment for Frostbite
Do not allow the patient to come into contact with heaters or flames to prevent further injury.
It should be noted that the cause of frostbite is exposure to low temperatures, which can be sudden or prolonged, causing the body or a specific area to be unable to tolerate the cold, leading to frostbite. Therefore, the first step in first aid for a frostbite victim is to quickly move the person to a warm place to prevent further drop in body temperature:
- If the cold area is a limb, immediately remove it from the cold environment and warm it in any possible way.
- If the patient’s clothing is wet, remove it immediately to prevent further cooling, which would prevent the body temperature from rising. Then, find ways to warm the patient’s body, such as wrapping them in blankets or increasing the ambient temperature.
- The frostbite victim needs to be taken to a warm place, which is crucial to eliminating the risk of hypothermia, thus stimulating the body to self-regulate and warm itself or the affected area.
Next, immerse the affected areas in warm water at 40-42 degrees Celsius for 10 to 20 minutes depending on the level of frostbite. Absolutely do not allow the patient to come into contact with flames or heaters, as this could lead to more severe injuries from burn complications.
After soaking in warm water, keep the patient still or cover the area with sterile gauze to prevent further damage from ice crystals moving and harming tissues. If frostbite occurs on the extremities, use padding to separate the fingers and toes to prevent them from rubbing against each other, which can cause additional pain. As the frostbitten area is warmed, the patient may feel a burning sensation akin to thousands of tiny fires. The numb areas will turn pink or red, and in the case of first and second-degree frostbite, the patient will gradually regain sensation.
Finally, transfer the patient to the nearest hospital for examination and treatment by a specialist.
How to Prevent Frostbite
Essentially, frostbite is usually a mild injury that does not cause permanent skin damage. Patients can treat it with first aid measures and warming the affected skin. However, without timely treatment, complications such as infection, nerve damage, and necrosis may occur.
Frostbite can lead to complications such as increased sensitivity to cold; a higher risk of recurrent frostbite; long-term numbness in the affected areas; excessive sweating; skin discoloration; changes or loss of nails; joint stiffness; growth abnormalities in children; infections; tetanus; necrosis due to disrupted blood flow to the affected skin, which may lead to amputation; and hypothermia…
Dressing warmly and staying hydrated are ways to prevent frostbite. (Image: Freepik).
Individuals in the following groups are at higher risk for frostbite: Wearing insufficiently warm or overly tight clothing; spending prolonged periods outdoors in cold, windy conditions; touching materials such as ice, cold packs, or frozen metal.
You can prevent frostbite by keeping your body warm. Doctors recommend limiting outdoor activities during cold, wet, or windy weather. In cold seasons, you should wear multiple layers of clothing that are not too tight and sufficiently warm. Additionally, wearing hats, scarves, gloves, and warm socks to cover your ears, neck, hands, and feet is advisable.
If you notice reddened, pale skin with a prickling sensation or numbness, you need to warm your body as soon as possible. When outdoors in cold weather, avoid consuming alcohol, as alcoholic beverages can lead to quicker heat loss. Furthermore, you should consume hot foods, drink plenty of water, and keep moving to ensure adequate blood circulation.
Frostbite can occur at any age. Especially in the current cold weather conditions in the northern regions, parents should pay attention to their children, keeping them warm as they are more vulnerable due to their sensitive skin and the severe consequences of frostbite. At the first sign of cold, swollen, painful skin, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately to prevent severe damage, which may be difficult to treat.
