Frostbite
Frostbite is damage to the skin and underlying tissues that is caused by extreme cold. When you get frostbite, ice crystals actually form within your tissues. Frostbite can affect any part of the body, but the hands, feet, nose, and ears are most generally frozen. Symptoms Symptoms include: • The area may feel like it's asleep -- the pins and needles feeling • Numbness • Aching • Throbbing • Lack of feeling • Very painful as area thaws • Blisters • Gangrene • Tissue damage Stages There are several stages of frostbite: • Frostnip is a mild form. Your skin turns red, and that area of your body feels very cold. • Superficial frostbite is the second stage. That redness from frostnip turns white. The skin may still be soft, but ice crystals have started to form. Your skin may feel warm, which indicates damage to the skin. • Severe or deep frostbite affects all the layers of the skin, including the tissues underneath. You might lose all feeling in that area. The area will turn black and hard as the tissue dies. Treatment Frostbite can be treated with first-aid and medical treatment, depending on how severe it is.
How would you specifically treat each stage of frostbite? My guess would be that slowly warming affected areas in a warm water bath with IV fluids with frostnip and superficial frostbite would suffice but amputation may be necessary in severe frostbite with IV fluids.
