Treatment
Labels Frostbite
Treatment at the scene begins with treating any life-threatening conditions
first (internal injuries, etc.). The injured person should have wet
clothing replaced with soft dry clothing to prevent further heat loss.
Rewarming of the injured part should not be attempted if there is any
danger of refreezing; in addition, the injured areas should not be rubbed
with either snow or warm hands, as such rubbing may make the injury
worse by pushing the ice crystals in the frozen skin through the cell wall.
Last, the injured person should not be given alcohol or tranquilizers, as
these will increase loss of body heat.
The injured person should then be taken to a hospital emergency
room as soon as possible. Treatment begins with fluid replacement to
speed up blood flow to the frostbitten tissues. The person will then be
rewarmed either with warm wet packs or with a whirlpool bath at
104–108°F (40–42°C). Dry heat is not used for rewarming. The
patient may be given morphine for pain. Thawing of frozen tissue takes
about twenty to forty minutes, after which the injured part is placed on
a sterile sheet, raised, and splinted. Blisters filled with clear fluid can be
debrided (surgically removed), but blood-filled blisters are allowed to
remain in order to prevent infection.
If frostbitten skin is not treated and its blood vessels are affected,
gangrene may set in. Gangrene is the death of soft tissue due to loss of
blood supply. It may be treated by surgical removal of the affected tissue
if caught early; otherwise, the surgeon may have to amputate the affected
digit or limb in part to prevent bacterial infections from spreading from
the dead tissue to the rest of the body. People with frostbite may be given
penicillin or other antibiotics in the emergency room to prevent infection
of the damaged tissue, and ibuprofen to treat inflammation.
It may take from one to three months for the frostbitten tissue to
heal. In most cases, amputation can be delayed for that length of time
to see whether the affected body part will recover.
first (internal injuries, etc.). The injured person should have wet
clothing replaced with soft dry clothing to prevent further heat loss.
Rewarming of the injured part should not be attempted if there is any
danger of refreezing; in addition, the injured areas should not be rubbed
with either snow or warm hands, as such rubbing may make the injury
worse by pushing the ice crystals in the frozen skin through the cell wall.
Last, the injured person should not be given alcohol or tranquilizers, as
these will increase loss of body heat.
The injured person should then be taken to a hospital emergency
room as soon as possible. Treatment begins with fluid replacement to
speed up blood flow to the frostbitten tissues. The person will then be
rewarmed either with warm wet packs or with a whirlpool bath at
104–108°F (40–42°C). Dry heat is not used for rewarming. The
patient may be given morphine for pain. Thawing of frozen tissue takes
about twenty to forty minutes, after which the injured part is placed on
a sterile sheet, raised, and splinted. Blisters filled with clear fluid can be
debrided (surgically removed), but blood-filled blisters are allowed to
remain in order to prevent infection.
If frostbitten skin is not treated and its blood vessels are affected,
gangrene may set in. Gangrene is the death of soft tissue due to loss of
blood supply. It may be treated by surgical removal of the affected tissue
if caught early; otherwise, the surgeon may have to amputate the affected
digit or limb in part to prevent bacterial infections from spreading from
the dead tissue to the rest of the body. People with frostbite may be given
penicillin or other antibiotics in the emergency room to prevent infection
of the damaged tissue, and ibuprofen to treat inflammation.
It may take from one to three months for the frostbitten tissue to
heal. In most cases, amputation can be delayed for that length of time
to see whether the affected body part will recover.
0 Response to "Treatment"
Post a Comment