Frostbite

Frostbite

Frostbite results when the body is ex­posed to extreme cold. It
usually occurs in the ears, fingers, nose, and toes. The imme­diate
effect of frostbite is that the frostbit­ten area becomes whitish and
numb. This occurs because the blood and moisture in the tissues freeze
and circulation is cut off. Fur­ther damage varies. The tissue of a
frostbit­ten finger may be completely destroyed. Or the child may
experience no more than a mildly painful burning sensation every time
the finger is exposed to cold, even months after the original injury.

If you think your child has frostbite, fol­low these procedures:

• Consult a doctor as soon as possible.

• Do not massage the frostbitten area, be­cause you may damage the
  tissues.

• Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or ice, because you may
  remove the skin and injure the tissues.

• Take the child indoors and let the frostbit­ten area warm gradually.

• Do not apply hot pads, heating pads, or hot-water bottles.

• Do not put the child close to a hot stove or under a heat lamp.

• Soak frostbitten fingers or toes in luke­warm water (90° to 100° F.;
  32° to 38° C). Apply warm (not hot), wet towels to frost­bitten nose
  or ears.

• If blisters occur, cover them with a band­age to protect them from
  infection.

Frostbite can be prevented by following certain precautions.

• Dampness increases the chance of frost­bite, so teach your child to
  come indoors to change wet or damp clothing, particularly mittens,
  shoes, and socks.

• Be certain that ears, hands, and feet are adequately protected in
  cold weather.

• The child should wear a protective face mask when ice-skating,
  skiing, or otherwise exposed to the cold for a long time,
  [m.g]

See also Blister

Fungus diseases. See Ringworm;

Thrush

Furuncle. See Boil

**If your child’s hands or feet become frostbitten, warm them
gradually by soaking them in lukewarm water.