How to treat frostbite at home?
Frostbites happen in very cold climates, when the body tissue becomes frozen. The blood vessels in the affected area get damaged, blood flow gets restricted and the tissues become numb or sometimes they even die out.
Fingers, toes, cheeks, nose and ears are affected. The affected area becomes red and swollen accompanied by a burning sensation. The parts become almost numb. The damage could even spread to nerves and bones. Serious cases can lead to amputation and even death.
To treat frostbite,
- Bring the person indoor as soon as possible.
- Keep the affected area still.
- Do not rub or massage the affected area.
- Do not use very warm water over the affected area. Submerge the area in a container of water slightly warmer than the room temperature (only slightly warm).
- Wrap the patient’s body in layers of clothing. The air between the layers of cloth will help keep your body warm.
- Wrap the fingers and toes individually so that they do not rub against each other.
- Eat carbohydrate rich food.
- Drink plenty of warm fluid.
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol while recovering.
- Do not wear tight fitting clothes; it will decrease the circulation.
- Keep the affected area in an elevated position to minimize swelling.
- Wear hat, scarf and earmuffs to keep warm.
- Do a lot of physical exercise to keep your body warm.
Once you have been attacked by frostbite, it is more likely to happen again. Children are more susceptible to frostbite than adults.