How to Treat Frostbite
Frostbite is dangerous: You can lose a finger or toe, even an arm or leg, if you don't treat it properly. Do everything in your power to prevent frostbite before it occurs, but if you see any possible symptoms of frostbite, treat immediately by rewarming the affected area.
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Things You'll Need
- Water Thermometers
- Aloe Vera Ointment
- Antibacterial Soaps
- First Aid Kits
- Gauze Wraps
- Ibuprofen
- Camp-stove Fuels
- Camping Cookwares
- Camping Stoves
Instructions
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Consider taking a pain reliever such as ibuprofen to brace for the inevitable pain of rewarming.
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Gather the following supplies if possible: a camp stove with fuel, a pot in which to heat water, a receptacle large enough to hold the affected body part without allowing it to touch the sides, and a thermometer to check the water's temperature.
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Heat the right amount of water - enough to cover the affected area once it's in the receptacle - to between 104 and 108 degrees F.
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Pour the heated water into the receptacle.
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Immerse the affected part - stripped of all clothing and covering - in the water, taking care that it doesn't touch the sides of the receptacle.
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Heat more water, again to between 104 and 108 degrees F.
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Replace the water in the receptacle once it has cooled to below 100 degrees F.
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Repeat the heat-and-replace cycle until all discoloration has disappeared and all tissue is once again soft and pliable. This usually takes 30 to 60 minutes.
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Prepare a bath of water mixed with antibacterial soap. Immerse the affected area for 5 minutes to minimize risk of infection.
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Air-dry the injured area and gingerly apply aloe vera ointment.
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Cover the injured area gently with dry sterile gauze and insulating layers.
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Evacuate if you are outdoors, taking extreme care not to let the frostbitten body part refreeze.
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Tips & Warnings
The biggest danger of rewarming in the outdoors is that the affected area may thaw and then refreeze, resulting in far worse tissue damage than if you delay thawing so that it's done well and only once. Because refreezing is so undesirable, strongly consider evacuation before thawing.
If you decide to evacuate, first strip the affected part of all clothing (unless frozen to the skin) and wrap it in as much dry insulation as possible. On the way out, do what you can to keep the frozen part from partially thawing along the way: Change how well the part is covered and adjust your pace.
If hypothermia is present along with frostbite, treat hypothermia first.
Using an open flame under the pot to keep the bathwater warm risks burning the frostbitten body part. Instead, periodically change the water as indicated above.
Rubbing the affected area or exposing it to any external heat source other than warm water can cause permanent tissue damage.
Frostbite can strike in any season, especially in the high country. Keep a close eye on the weather wherever you go in the wilderness, and adjust your plans as necessary to avoid the risk of frostbite.
Avoid tight-fitting clothing - including footwear - which may impair circulation.
Avoid alcohol, which contributes to dehydration and impairs judgment, as well as caffeine and nicotine, which constrict blood vessels and therefore reduce the blood supply to extremities.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.
