Show Frostbite This Time Tire of Year Could Be a Pain in the Summer by Chere Gin Gingher gher Journalism To most people frostbite may seem like a remote risk Yet as more and more people venture outdoors every winter winter skiing skiing hiking hunting and snowmobiling snowmobiling-it it has become an increasing increasing increasing in in- creasing health hazard As the body tries to conserve heat for vital internal organs in the bitter cold it reduces the flow of warming blood to the extremities Eventually if the temperature in the tissue drops low enough tiny ice crystals begin to form in the watery spaces between cells Expanding outward in all di directions directions directions di- di the ice ruptures cell membranes membranes membranes mem mem- branes and kills the tissue which turns white stiff and insensitive to touch The rhe reduced blood flow due to and clotting of blood inside small blood vessels raises the possibility possibility possibility of gangrene occurring The extent of the injury depends upon temperature duration of exposure wind velocity humidity lack of protective protective protective pro pro- clothing or the presence of wet clothing The extend o of the injury is not usually usually ally known when just seen Fingers cheeks ears and arid nose are the most commonly affected body parts If ex exposure exposure ex- ex is prolonged the freezing may extend up the arms and legs Ice crystals crystals crystals crys crys- in the skin and other tissues cause the area to appear a white or greyish yellow color Pain may occur early and subside Often the part will feel only very cold and numb or there may be a tingling or aching sensation on The victim may not be aware of frostbite until someone someone someone some some- one mentions it When the damage is superficial the surface will feel hard and underlying tissue soft when depressed depressed depressed de de- de- de pressed gently and firmly After thawing the part becomes fl flushed and sometimes deep purple in color It later sheds by flaking Time alone will reveal the kind of frostbite that has occurred The principles principles principles prin prin- of emergency care are few The two most important aspects are getting getting getting get get- ting the victim to a place of permanent perman perman- ent treatment as soon as possible and than re If the victim is out in the field but not too far away from a medical facility facility facility facil facil- ity and the part is still frozen take the victim in as he is and make no attempt to thaw the injured part Be sure that the part is kept frozen if partial thawing occurs Along with refreezing ice crystals formed the second time are larger and therefore tissue damage is more severe If in a remote area and feet are frostbitten a victim may walk on his feet if the feet have not started to thaw Otherwise Otherwise Otherwise Other Other- wise do not allow the victim to walk f Once has started warming warming warm warm- t.- t. ing must be maintained Refreezing f or walking on a partially thawed part can be very harmful Never rub the affected part to to restore circulation and especially do not rub it with snow |