About this topic
Frostbite is damage to a body part caused by cold. Frostbite happens when your body tissue freezes. It can be mild or very bad. Frostbite happens most often in the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks, and chin. Frozen tissue cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs. In bad cases, the body part dies and doctors may have to cut off or remove body parts, such as fingers and toes. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Prop up your injured part on pillows. This will help with pain and swelling.
- Take all drugs that your doctor orders you to take.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your injured part. Ask your doctor about:
- If you need to wear a bandage and when to change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
- Ask if you need to use special braces, splints, or shoes to protect the injured area.
- If your foot was affected, you may need to use a walker, crutches, or a cane. This will take pressure off the sore area.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. You may need to have therapy or rehab care. This can help you with walking or doing activities with your hands. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Prevent or fight an infection
- Break up small blood clots
- Help with blood flow
- Prevent tetanus
Will physical activity be limited?
You may need to limit your activity. This is based on where your frostbite is and how bad it is. You may need extra protection over this part. Ask your doctor how much activity is safe for you. It may take up to 6 months for skin to fully heal. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Hypothermia
- Infection
- Part keeps on hurting and is more sensitive to cold
- Problems moving part because it is numb and stiff
- Problems doing daily activities
- Blood clots
- Tissue or body part may die and need surgery to remove
- Disability
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Always protect your skin from cold temperatures. Wear layers of warm clothing, mittens, gloves, boots, and earmuffs. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Ski masks can help protect the nose, cheeks, and chin.
- Wear clothing that can protect from both the wind and wetness.
- Always get out of cold, wet clothes as soon as possible.
- Keep updated on weather conditions. Even a few minutes in the cold can cause frostbite.
- If children are playing outside in the cold, make them come indoors regularly to warm up.
- Plan ahead for emergencies. Bring blankets and extra clothes in the car if you are driving anywhere in the cold, and if you are traveling to far or remote areas.
- Be sure to eat and drink enough when you are out in the cold.
- Avoid drinking beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) and smoking.
- Avoid contact with water or metal. These can be very cold.
- Always carry emergency supplies and tell people where you are going.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the wound; wound opens up.
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Helpful tips
- If you have mild frostbite, remove all wet clothing right away.
- To warm up your hands from frostbite, place them under your armpits. Try putting them in warm but not very hot water. If water is not on hand, use warm blankets. Never use a stove, fireplace, or heating pad as these can cause burns on your numb skin.
- Used gloved hands over your face to protect your nose and ears if they are not covered.
- Do not try to walk on feet or toes with frostbite, unless it is to get to a warmer place. This can lead to worse damage.
- Do not thaw frostbit areas if there is a chance they will freeze again. Freezing, thawing, and refreezing can lead to more damage.
- Never rub skin with frostbite.
- Do not rub snow onto frostbite.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my skin.
- I can tell you how I will take extra care to prevent this from happening in the future.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have swelling, redness, or warmth around my wound.
Where can I learn more?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/staysafe/frostbite.asp ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/frostbite.html ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Frostbite/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚