How to Treat and Prevent Frostbite

For many people, frostbite can be a very real threat during the cold winter months.  Knowing first aid for frostbite can help ensure that your fingers, toes, hands, feet and other areas of the body are kept safe.  If left untreated, frostbite can result in the loss of body parts and a great deal of pain and distress.

Remove Wet Clothing

The first thing to do upon discovering the frostbite is to get the victim (or yourself) to a warmer location.  If possible, call 911 before you move the person.  Next, you need to remove any wet clothing from the frostbite victim and put on dry clothing, and then wrap the person in a blanket.

Submerge in Lukewarm Water

Once the wet clothing has been discarded, the next step to caring for frostbite is to submerge the body part in warm water.  Never use hot water – it can actually increase the damage to the body.  Use lukewarm water only, the water should feel blood temperature, not in any way hot.  Never rub the body part, either, as the ice crystals in the skin can cause even more damage if rubbed.

Give a Warm Drink

While the frostbite victim is soaking his or her affected area in warm water, give them something warm to drink if they are alert enough to drink it safely.  If the cup is hot, do not let the frostbite victim touch it (if their hands are affected).

Loosely Bandage

Once the areas affected by frostbite are red and warm, dry them very gently without rubbing, and then loosely bandage them up.  Do not bandage them tightly – use a loose wrapping method to do this.  Once bandaged, elevate the affected area above the level of the heart to reduce swelling. 

Seek Medical Attention Promptly

If you haven’t already, seek medical attention now.  The longer you wait, the worse the eventual damage may be.  If medical attention is not available, keep a close eye on the affected area as the hours pass, and gently wash and re-wrap the area until the frostbite has subsided. 

When to go to Hospital For Frostbite

If the area starts turning blue or black, tissue death may have occurred and it is vital that the victim is taken to hospital immediately to prevent treat the damaged area and prevent the surrounding tissues from dying too.  Often, amputation may be required to save the surrounding area and to prevent the infection from spreading.