Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

9 Other Emergencies

Localized cold injury Localized cold injuries are usually confined to exposed parts of the body. The feet and exposed ears, nose, and face are the most vulnerable to cold injury. When an exposed part of the body becomes very cold, but not frozen, it is called frostnip or immersion foot. Other words are chilblains and trench foot. When the parts becomes frozen, it is called frostbite . Any patient with hypothermia should also be assessed for frostbite or other localized cold injury and vice versa. Both local and whole body cold injury can occur in the same patient.

Frostnip and Immersion foot During prolonged exposure to cold, the skin can be freezing but deeper tissues remain unaffected. This is called frostnip and it most often affects the ears, nose and fingers. Frostnip usually causes no pain and is seldom recognized by the patient. Immersion foot occurs after prolonged exposure to cold, wet conditions and is common among hikers or anyone who has wet feet for extended periods. In both immersion foot and frostnip, the skin is blanched of colour, pale, and cold to the touch. Normal colour is not restored by rubbing or massaging the skin. The skin of the foot may appear deeply wrinkled or it may remain soft. Typically there is a loss of feeling in the affected area.

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