Frostbite

Definition

• Frostbite is a cold injury to the skin
• The ears, nose, fingers, and toes are most often affected

• Pain becomes severe
• Color and feeling do not return to normal after 1 hour of re-warming
• Frostbite gets blisters
• You think your child needs to be seen
• Your child becomes worse

Symptoms

• Symptoms of mild frostbite (or frostnip) are cold, tingling and painful skin.
• True frostbite causes white, hard, numb skin. It can be serious. It always needs medical care after re-warming.
• Common sites are toes, fingers, tip of the nose, the outer ear or cheeks.

Frostbite Severity

• Frostnip (mild frostbite). Cold, tingling and painful skin. No skin changes after re-warming.
• 1st Degree. White and waxy (hard) while frozen. Mild redness and swelling after re-warming. No blisters.
• 2nd Degree. Same as 1st degree plus blisters after 24 hours.
• 3rd Degree. Blood-filled blisters leading to skin damage and scarring.

Cause

• The nerves, blood vessels and skin cells are frozen for a short time.
• Type of contact. Frostbite is made worse if the skin and clothing are wet. Touching bare hands to cold metal during freezing weather can cause frostbite right away.
• Time of contact. The longer the exposure, the greater the heat loss and the chance of frostbite. The wind-chill index also plays a part in how quickly frostbite occurs.

Prevention of Frostbite

• Cold sensitivity and recurrent frostbite is common following severe frostbite.
• Dress in layers for cold weather. The first layer should be thermal underwear. The outer layer needs to be waterproof. The layers should be loose, not tight. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Do not use tight gloves or shoes. They might interfere with circulation.
• Wear a hat, because over 50% of heat loss occurs from the head.
• Change wet gloves or socks right away.
• Teach your child to know the first warning signs of frostbite. Tingling and numbness are signs to go indoors.