Fabulous landscapes, bright and colorful sunrises and sunsets, frosty freshness, the crunch of snow underfoot, peace and clarity of thought - this is why many people love winter despite the cold, wind and other whims of nature. Ice fishing, hunting from a storage shed or ambush in the cold, skiing trips and winter ascents - all this takes place. The main thing at this time of year is not to get frostbite and know what to do and who to contact if something goes wrong. This is what the article will talk about.

First aid for accidents in nature

Degrees and signs of frostbite To begin with, let's figure out what degrees of frostbite there are, because first aid and further steps depend on them.

1 degree The mildest degree. With it, the skin becomes cold, pale and marbled, tingling, itching and burning appear. The affected area begins to swell, and after warming up, it turns red. There are no wounds or blisters, as with burns.

2nd degree The skin becomes even whiter, severe pain occurs, itching and burning increase. When warming up, blisters with liquid inside appear on the skin. If first aid is provided quickly and correctly, the blisters will disappear in one to two weeks and there will be no scars.

3rd degree Sensitivity disappears completely. The skin first becomes completely white, and then begins to darken. Blisters appear when warming up. With timely medical care, all wounds will heal in about a month, but scars will appear, and the nails on frostbitten fingers may fall off.

4th degree The skin becomes dark blue. After warming up, swelling begins, sensitivity does not return. Unfortunately, gangrene begins. It is no longer possible to save the affected limb or finger - only amputation.

First aid for frostbite

The first step is to get out of the cold so as not to aggravate the situation even more. Rubbing and trying to warm the affected areas outside is useless and even dangerous.

At the first stage, after the victim is indoors, you need to take off the frozen clothes and shoes, change him into dry and warm clothes. The affected limb needs to be wrapped up, and the person should be given hot tea with sugar. There is no need to see a doctor.

At the second stage and a small area of frostbite, you need to give the victim a painkiller, treat the wound with chlorhexidine, bandage it and wrap it in something warm. Then you need to go to the burn department of a medical facility. At the second stage with a large area of damage, for example, with a frostbitten hand or foot, as well as at the third or fourth stages, you need to call an ambulance or, if you are outdoors, the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Before the specialists arrive, you need to get out of the cold, wrap up the victim, give him a hot sweet drink and a painkiller.

If a person has fallen through the ice and has been pulled out of the water, you need to unbutton the top of the victim's jacket and loosen the scarf. Due to falling into cold water and the rapid cooling of the body, the breathing rate decreases, and the person may suffocate. After first aid, call the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

What should not be done in case of frostbite

Incorrectly provided first aid will lead to even greater damage. We will briefly tell you what you should definitely not do in case of a cold injury:

-Rub frostbitten limbs, nose, ears or fingers. This can lead to wounds and bruises.

-Apply a heating pad, try to warm up by a fire or radiator, or lower the injured limb into hot water. Because of this, the blood vessels narrow more, which only increases the consequences of frostbite. And if sensitivity is reduced, you can also get a burn.

-You cannot drink alcohol or coffee. These drinks dilate blood vessels, and heat leaves the body faster, and the person freezes even more.

- Lubricate the frostbitten area with fat, apply apple pulp, golden mustache and other folk remedies. It will be difficult to wash the wound to apply a bandage, the tissue will be injured even more, and the wound may begin to fester.

- Burst blisters and tear off clothing from frostbitten areas. This will introduce an infection into the wound, and the skin may come off along with the clothing.

- Warm the victim in a hot bath or sauna. The vessels will expand sharply, and cold blood from vital organs will go to the heart. This can lead to its arrest.

How to prevent frostbite

The main and most important rule is to dress for the weather, and in winter in layers, like "cabbage". The first layer is thermal underwear. It "breathes" well, quickly wicks moisture away from the body and retains heat better than a regular T-shirt, long johns or leggings. If you move a lot, sets made of synthetic materials will suit you. Such fabric is durable and wear-resistant.

If you will walk little, you should choose a set made of merino wool. It will be warmer.

The second layer should retain heat. It is better if it is a suit or a sweater and trousers made of fleece or wool.

The last layer protects from cold, wind, dirt, moisture and snow. When choosing a jacket, pay attention to models with:

elongated back;

adjustable hood;

high collar;

zipper with windproof flap; cuffs on the sleeves. Trousers also need to be chosen carefully. It is worth taking a closer look at models with a high back and chest protection, adjustable straps, additional knee protection and tightening at the bottom of the legs.