Treating Frostbite

If you are stranded with frostbite and unable to get medical help:

• Try to get to a warm location and wrap yourself in blankets.
• Do not put snow or hot water on the injured area.
• Do not rub affected areas.
• Tuck your hands into your armpits to try to rewarm them.
• If it's available, use warm water (at about 105°F [40°C]) to rewarm your frostbitten area.
• Avoid refreezing the affected area. This can result in more severe injury.
• While walking on frozen feet and toes can cause damage, it may be more important to find shelter.
• Drink warm liquids.
• Avoid alcohol and sedatives.
• Cover the injured area with a clean cloth until you can get medical help.
• Take aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to relieve pain. Rewarming can be intensely painful.

If you're able to get medical assistance, treatment may include moving you to a warm place and wrapping you in blankets. The injured body part may be soaked in warm (not hot) water.

Other treatments may include:

• Opening and emptying blisters
• Taking antibiotics
• Taking pain medication
• Keeping the injured body part elevated above your heart
• Getting a tetanus booster shot
• Receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy -a special chamber in which oxygen is under greater pressure than normal
• Amputation of all or part of the affected body part (may be necessary in severe frostbite cases)