Cold

Hypothermia & Frostbite

Acute hypothermia is caused by a rapid loss of body heat.

Early signs include:

• Shivering
• nonspecific disturbances of mental activity and judgment
• Loss of fine motor coordination
• "I don't care attitude" - flattened affect
• Irrational behavior

First aid treatment:

• Reduce Heat Loss
  • Additional layers of clothing
  • Dry clothing
  • Increased physical activity
  • Shelter
• Add Fuel & Fluids
• Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all.
• avoid to rewarming the periphery (arms and legs) in the first step. Rewarm the core only
• seek medical assistance

Frostbite

At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin -- frostbite may be beginning. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes.

Any of the following signs may indicate frostbite:

• a white or grayish-yellow skin area
• skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
• numbnes

Signs of frostbite of:

1. degree

• redness
• pain or irritation in any skin area
• Irritation

• blistering and minor tissue loss

• Numbnes, possible anesthesia
• Black fingers and toes
• Ulcer
• Gangrene

• Loose clothing
• No contact with cool metal
• Use non-waterbased lotion for skincare
• Do not smoke
• Wind chill (se chart below)

The wind chill chart shows the difference between air temperature and perceived temperature and amount of time until frostbite occurs:

Windspeed /Temperature measured in Celsius degrees.

0	+10	+5	0	-5	-10	-15	-20	-25	-30
2,5m/s	+8	+4	-3	-9	-14	-19	-24	-30	-36
5m/s	+6	+2	-6	-13	-18	-23	-27	-35	-42
10m/s	+2	-3	-12	-21	-26	-31	-35	-45	-54
15m/s	-2	-9	-18	-29	-34	-39	-43	-55	-68
20m/s	-6	-15	-24	-37	-42	-47	-51	-65	-80

Risk for frostbite

increased

medium

High

To top • Back to list Home

Updated 02-Mar-2003 • İtraveldoctorOnline 2001 • Disclaimer • webmaster

The contents within traveldoctoronline are presented only for informational purposes and cannot substitute for professional health care or any other medical treatment.All users of this website with health problems should be oblige always to consult their medical doctor before starting any treatment.