Frostbite and Hypothermia: Extreme Cold Emergencies

With cold weather coming our way soon, I would like to help make people more aware of two cold related emergencies, hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia is a condition in which a person's body becomes cold because it can no longer keep itself warm. If left untreated, a person suffering from hypothermia will die. It is important to know that hypothermia does not only happen when the air temperature is below freezing. There are other contributing factors, as well as those that may be at a higher risk.

If a person is wet and becomes cold, especially if it is windy, they can become hypothermic. If a person is in cold water or wet clothes for a long time, they can become hypothermic. Elderly people who do not have adequate heating in their home, or do not dress properly for the weather can become hypothermic even if they are not outdoors at all. Homeless people, people who are sick and younger children are also at a higher risk. If a person has a medical condition that negatively effects circulation, such as cardiovascular diseases or diabetes, they are at higher risk. Drinking alcohol may also contribute to a person developing hypothermia. In general, anything that can interfere with the body's ability to keep itself warm can contribute to a person developing hypothermia.

As I stated before, hypothermia will cause death if it is left untreated, therefore; it is important to know the signs and symptoms of hypothermia. Shivering, numbness, a glassy stare, confusion or indifference, and loss of consciousness are all signs and symptoms of hypothermia. Any shivering that stops before a person is warmed up is a sign that the condition is getting worse and the person needs immediate medical help.

Now that we know what causes hypothermia and what to look for, let's talk about what to do to help. Remember to always handle the person gently. Move the person to a warmer place if possible, and check the person's airway, and breathing, and look for signs of circulation. Care for shock if necessary. Call 911 or your local emergency response number, or have someone else do it if possible to allow you to stay with the person. Remove any wet clothing and dry the person. Be gentle and do not rub the skin, pat them dry. Gradually warm the person's body by putting the person in dry clothing and covering the person with blankets. It is best to wrap the person if possible. If you are able to, use heating pads or hot water bottles to help warm the person, but be sure to keep a barrier between the person and the heating pad or hot water bottler so the person does not get burned. If the person is alert and awake, offer the person warm liquids to drink. Make sure that the liquid does not have any caffeine.

Do not place the person in warm water or do anything that can warm them quickly. Warming a person too quickly can cause heart problems that can be very dangerous.

If a person is suffering from severe hypothermia, the person may be unconscious, breathing may be very slow or may have stopped all together, and pulse may be slow and irregular also. If this is the case, be sure to check airway, breathing, and signs of circulation need to be checked for 30-45 seconds. The person's body may feel stiff due to the muscles becoming rigid. Be sure to call 911 or your local emergency response number, and stay with the person to monitor airway, breathing, and signs of circulation. Be prepared to begin CPR or rescue breathing if the need arises. Also be prepared to use an AED if one is available.
Now that you know about hypothermia, it's time to learn more about frostbite.

Frostbite is a condition in which a part of the body actually freezes because of exposure to the cold. How bad the frostbite is depends on how cold the temperature in the air is, the wind, and how long the exposure lasts. Frostbite can cause a person to lose the affected part of the body.

What should you look for when looking for frostbite?

Signs and symptoms of frostbite include not being able to feel the affected part of the body, skin that has a waxy appearance, it will feel cold when it is touched, or be discolored. The affected area may appear to be white, flushed, yellow, or blue.

How should we treat frostbite?

Call 911 or your local emergency response number as soon as you can, or have someone else make the call if possible to enable you to stay with the person and care for them. Remember to handle the person gently, including the affected area. Do not rub the affected area. This may damage soft tissue in the affected area. Do not attempt to warm the affected area if there is any chance that it may refreeze, or if you are close to a hospital or other medical facility. If you do attempt to warm the area, do so slowly and gently. Remove any wet clothing or jewelry from the affected area. Soak the affected area in warm water, no hotter than 105 degrees, Fahrenheit. If you do not have a thermometer to check the temperature, check it yourself by touching it. If the water feels too hot to you, it will be too hot to soak the affected area in. If you are using a metal bucket or container to soak the affected area, be sure to place a towel over the metal before placing the affected are into the water. Anything that is frozen will stick to metal. This could cause more damage to the person suffering from frostbite. Keep the frostbitten area in the water until it is feels warm and normal color has returned to the skin. Loosely bandage the area with a dry and sterile dressing. If the fingers or toes are frostbitten, place cotton in between them. Do not break any blisters that may appear. Watch the person for any signs or symptoms of hypothermia and shock. Take precautions such as wrapping the person in warm, dry blankets, and keeping them comfortable to help prevent hypothermia and shock.

Both hypothermia and frostbite are treatable. They are both emergencies that require medical treatment. Ways to help prevent these conditions are to avoid being outdoors in the cold weather for long periods of time, be sure to have adequate heating in your house, change your level of activity with the change of the weather, dress for the weather, and drink plenty of fluids to help you remain hydrated.

Knowing what to do in these situations can help you save a life.