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Frostbite and hypothermia: what to do and what not to

The main mistake with frostbite is warming too fast: hot water, a radiator, rubbing. Frozen tissue must be warmed slowly, from the inside, otherwise it dies. And general hypothermia — with drowsiness and slow speech — is a state in which a person must never be left to "sleep it off in the warmth".

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What to do right now

Get them warm and remove wet clothing
Dry clothes, a blanket, a warm room. Wet fabric removes heat twenty times faster than dry.
Warm sweet drinks
Tea with sugar or broth, if the person is conscious and can swallow. Alcohol is forbidden: it dilates vessels and increases heat loss.
Warm frostbitten areas slowly
A dry insulating dressing and rest for the limb. A water bath at 25–30 °C, raised gradually to 37 °C over half an hour, is acceptable.
Do not touch the blisters
Cover blisters with a sterile dressing without opening them.
Watch the level of consciousness
Drowsiness, slurred speech, unwillingness to move and, especially, shivering that has stopped — hypothermia is entering its dangerous stage.

Call an ambulance if

Body temperature below 35 °C, shivering stopped, drowsiness, confusion
Frostbite with blisters, pale or bluish skin, numbness that persists after warming
Frostbite over a large area, a whole hand or foot
A child, an elderly person or an intoxicated person exposed to cold
Someone found lying outdoors

What not to do

Do not rub with snow, wool or alcohol
Do not warm with hot water, a radiator or a hairdryer
Do not give alcohol
Do not allow sleep in hypothermia without assessment

What the crew does

Core temperature, level of consciousness, ECG — cold provokes arrhythmias
Gradual rewarming, warm intravenous fluids in deep hypothermia
Dressings for frostbitten areas, pain relief
Admission to a burns centre for deep frostbite — in Moscow, Sklifosovsky and City Hospital 36

This page is for information and does not replace a medical examination. If the condition worsens, call the crew: +7 (985) 887-82-52.

This page in Russian: Russian version.

Questions

Can frostbite be treated at home?

First degree — redness and tingling that pass on warming — yes. Blisters, white or blue skin and loss of sensation are second to fourth degree and need a surgeon.

How much does a call-out for frostbite cost in Moscow?

Call-out 6,000 ₽ inside the MKAD; dressings and pain relief by the price list.

I found someone lying outside in the frost — what should I do?

Call 103 or 112 immediately, cover them, do not rub, do not give drinks if they are unconscious. If conscious, move them somewhere warm and give a sweet drink while waiting.