175 lines
8.0 KiB
Plaintext
175 lines
8.0 KiB
Plaintext
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<20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>Ŀ
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<20> <20>
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<20> Treating for Cold Exposure and Frostbite <20>
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<20> <20>
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The following material may assist you in treating a victim for
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exposure to the cold and also how to deal with frostbite. This
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information is derived from "Advanced First Aid & Emergency Care,"
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2nd edition, by the American Red Cross. To obtain a copy of this
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book and to take instruction in first aid, please contact the local
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office of the American Red Cross. They are listed in the white
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pages of your telephone book.
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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The extent of injury caused by exposure to abnormally low
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temperature generally depends on such factors as wind velocity,
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type and duration of exposure, temperature and humidity.
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Freezing is accelerated by wind, humidity or a combination of
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the two. Injury caused by cold, dry air will be less than that
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caused by cold, moist air or exposure to cold air while wearing wet
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clothing. Fatigue, smoking, drinking of alcoholic beverages,
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emotional stress and the presence of wounds or fractures intensity
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the harmful effects of cold.
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SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
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The general manifestations of prolonged exposure to extreme
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cold include shivering, numbness, low body temperature, drowsiness
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and marked muscular weakness. As time passes there is mental
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confusion and impairment of judgment. The victim staggers, his
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eyesight fails, he falls and he may become unconscious. Shock is
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evident and the victim's heart may develop fibrillation. Death, if
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it occurs, is usually due to heart failure.
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Frostbite results when crystals form, either superficially or
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deeply in the fluids and the underlying soft tissues of the skin.
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The effects are more severe if the injured area is thawed and then
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refrozen. Frostbite is the most common injury caused by exposure to
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the cold elements. Usually, the frozen area is small. the nose,
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cheeks, ears, fingers and toes are the most commonly affected.
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Just before frostbite occurs, the affected skin may be slight-
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ly flushed. The skin changes to white or grayish yellow as the
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frostbite develops. Pain is sometimes felt early but subsides
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later. Often there is NO pain; the part being frostbitten simply
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feels intensely cold and numb. The victim commonly is not aware of
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frostbite until someone tells him or until he observes his pale,
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glossy skin. The extent of local injury cannot be determined
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accurately on initial examination, even after rewarming. The extent
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of tissue damage usually corresponds to that in burns. In superfi-
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cial frostbite, there will be an area that looks white or grayish
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and the surface skin will feel hard but the underlying tissue will
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be soft. With deeper involvement, large blisters appear on the
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surface, as well as in underlying tissue, and the affected area is
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hard, cold and insensitive. Destruction of the entire thickness of
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the skin will necessitate skin grafting and will constitute a
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medical emergency, because gangrene may result from loss of blood
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supply to the injured part.
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FIRST AID
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The objectives of first aid are to protect the frozen area
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from further injury, to warm the affected part rapidly and to
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maintain respiration. Formerly, it was recommended that victims of
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frostbite be treated by slow warming -- rubbing with snow and
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gradually increasing the temperature. But recent studies have shown
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conclusively that much better results are obtained if the affected
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part is WARMED RAPIDLY in running or circulating water, unless the
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part has been thawed and refrozen, in which case it should be
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warmed at room temperature (from 70 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit). Do
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NOT use excessive heat, as from a stove, hot water bottles, elec-
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tric blankets or other devices.
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FROSTBITE
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1. Cover the frozen part.
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2. Provide extra clothing and blankets.
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3. Bring the victim indoors as soon as possible.
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4. Give him a warm drink (not alcoholic!).
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5. Rewarm the frozen part QUICKLY by immersing it in water that
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is warm but not hot. Test the water by pouring some over the
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inner surface of your forearm or place a thermometer in the
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water and carefully add warm water to keep the temperature
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between 102 degrees and 105 degrees Fahrenheit. If warm water
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is not available or practical to use, wrap the affected part
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in a sheet and warm blankets.
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6. Handle the area of the frostbite GENTLY and DO NOT MASSAGE IT.
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Severe swelling will develop rapidly after thawing. Discon-
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tinue warming as soon as the part becomes flushed (turning
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red). Once the part is rewarmed, have the victim exercise it.
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7. Cleanse the affected area with water and either soap or a mild
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detergent (NOT laundry or dishwasher detergent, though; they
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can be caustic and cause a chemical burn). Rinse it thorough-
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ly. Carefully blot dry with sterile or clean towels. Do NOT
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break the blisters.
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8. If the victim's fingers or toes are involved, place dry,
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sterile gauze between them to keep them separated.
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9. Do NOT apply other dressings unless the victim is to be
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transported to medical aid.
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10. Elevate frostbitten parts and protect them from contact with
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bedclothes.
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11. Do NOT allow the victim to walk after the affected part thaws,
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if his feet are involved.
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12. Do not apply additional heat and do not allow the victim to
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sit near a radiator, stove or fire. The numbed part may be
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severely burned and the victim might never realize it is
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happening to him.
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13. If a person with frozen feet is alone and MUST walk to get
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medical assistance, he should NOT attempt thawing in advance.
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14. If travel after receiving first aid is necessary, cover the
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affected parts with a sterile or clean cloth.
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15. Obtain medical assistance as soon as possible. If the distance
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to be covered is great, apply temporary dressings to the hands
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if they have been affected by frostbite.
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16. Keep injured parts elevated during transportation.
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17. If medical help or trained ambulance personnel will not reach
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the scene for an hour or more AND if the victim is CONSCIOUS
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and NOT VOMITING, give him a weak solution of salt and baking
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soda at home or while enroute (1 level teaspoon of salt and
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1/2 level teaspoon of baking soda in each quart of water,
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neither hot nor cold). Do not give alcoholic beverages. Allow
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the victim to sip S-L-O-W-L-Y. Give an adult about 4 ounces (a
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half glass) over a period of 15 minutes; give a child from 1
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to 12 years old about 2 ounces; give an infant (under 1 year
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old) about 1 ounce every 15 minutes. Discontinue giving fluids
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if vomiting occurs. Fluid may be given by mouth ONLY if
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medical help will not be available for an hour or more and is
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not otherwise contraindicated.
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PROLONGED EXPOSURE
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1. Give the victim artificial respiration, if necessary.
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2. Bring the victim into a warm room as quickly as possible.
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3. Remove wet or frozen clothing and anything that constricts the
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victim's arms, legs or fingers and might interfere with
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circulation as the frozen part is thawed and swelling begins.
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4. Rewarm the victim rapidly by wrapping him in a warm blanket or
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by placing him in a tub of water that is warmed to 102 to 105
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degrees Fahrenheit. If a thermometer is not available, make
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sure the water is not hot to YOUR hand and forearm.
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5. If the victim is conscious, give him hot liquids (but not
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alcohol) by mouth.
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6. Dry the victim thoroughly if water was used to rewarm him.
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7. Carry out the appropriate procedures as described under frost-
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bite.
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