![]() If you'll be in remote territory, tell others your route and expected return date. When traveling in cold weather, carry emergency supplies and warm clothing in case you become stranded. Seek warm shelter if you notice signs of frostbite. Early signs of frostbite include changes in skin color, prickling and numbness. Be sure foot warmers don't make boots too tight, restricting blood flow. Wear socks and sock liners that fit well, wick moisture and provide insulation.Or try a thin pair of glove liners made of a wicking material (such as polypropylene) under a pair of heavier gloves or mittens. Heavy woolen or windproof materials make the best headwear for cold protection. Wear a hat or headband that fully covers the ears.Change out of wet clothing - particularly gloves, hats and socks - as soon as possible. Choose undergarments that wick moisture away from the skin. Wear windproof and waterproof outer garments to protect against wind, snow and rain. ![]() Air trapped between the layers of clothing acts as insulation against the cold. Dress in several layers of loose, warm clothing.In very cold, windy weather, exposed skin can develop frostbite in a matter of minutes. Pay attention to weather forecasts and wind chill readings. Limit time outdoors in cold, wet or windy weather.Here are tips to help you stay safe and warm. Gangrene - decay and death of tissue resulting from an interruption of blood flow to the affected area - which can result in amputationįrostbite can be prevented.Growth problems in children, if frostbite damages a bone's growth plate.Long-term numbness in the affected area.Increased risk of developing frostbite again.Being at high altitude, where there's less oxygen.Being an infant or older adult, both of whom may have a harder time producing and retaining body heat.Fear, panic or mental illness that impairs your judgment.Medical conditions that affect your ability to feel or respond to cold, such as dehydration, excessive sweating, exhaustion, diabetes and poor blood flow in the limbs.The following factors increase the risk of frostbite: Mayo Clinic Minute: Why the risk of frostbite is greater than you think.Protecting the affected area from further cold.While you wait for emergency medical help or a doctor's appointment, take appropriate self-care measures, such as: Wrap the person with hypothermia in warm blankets until help arrives. Signs and symptoms of hypothermia include: Seek emergency care for hard, cold, blotchy skin.Īlso get emergency medical help if you suspect hypothermia, a condition in which the body loses heat faster than it can be produced. Increased pain, swelling, inflammation or discharge in the area that was frostbitten.Signs and symptoms of superficial or deep frostbite.Seek medical attention for frostbite if you experience: The tissue turns black and hard as it dies. ![]() Large blisters form 24 to 48 hours after rewarming. The skin turns white or blue-gray and you lose all sensation of cold, pain or discomfort in the area. As frostbite progresses, it affects all layers of the skin as well as the tissues that lie below. A fluid-filled blister may appear 12 to 36 hours after rewarming the skin. And you may notice stinging, burning and swelling. ![]() If you treat frostbite with rewarming at this stage, the surface of the skin may appear mottled. The skin may begin to feel warm - a sign of serious skin involvement. Superficial frostbite causes slight changes in skin color. Frostnip doesn't cause permanent skin damage. As your skin warms, you may feel pain and tingling. Continued cold exposure leads to numbness in the affected area. Changes in the color of the affected area might be difficult to see on brown or Black skin. Because of skin numbness, you may not realize you have frostbite until someone points it out.
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