ABSTRACT
Frostbites are cold-freezing injuries of the extremities due to the exposure to temperatures below 0°C. The risk, in the absence of treatment, is the amputation of frostbitten areas which become gangrenous. Victims of frostbite must be treated and evacuated urgently. Nurses play an active role in the secondary long-term treatment.
Subject(s)
Cold Temperature/adverse effects , Frostbite , Emergency Medical Services/methods , Frostbite/classification , Frostbite/etiology , Frostbite/nursing , Frostbite/prevention & control , Humans , Risk Factors , SeasonsSubject(s)
Frostbite/nursing , Seasons , Wounds and Injuries/nursing , Climate , Cold Temperature , HumansSubject(s)
Hypothermia, Induced/nursing , Resuscitation/nursing , Body Temperature , Emergency Medical Services/methods , Female , Frostbite/nursing , Frostbite/prevention & control , Humans , Hypothermia, Induced/instrumentation , Hypothermia, Induced/methods , Leg Injuries/nursing , Leg Injuries/prevention & control , Practice Guidelines as TopicABSTRACT
Frostbite is a condition that is associated with people living in countries with an extremely cold climate. However, it can affect people in the UK who are involved in winter sports, and is also associated with the homeless, people with a psychiatric illness, and those who misuse drugs and alcohol. Angela Davies describes the assessment and management of a patient with frostbite and identifies the challenges of managing these complex tissue injuries
Subject(s)
Frostbite/nursing , Adult , Frostbite/physiopathology , Ill-Housed Persons , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/complications , Risk Factors , Substance-Related Disorders/complications , United KingdomSubject(s)
Emergency Nursing/methods , Frostbite/nursing , Athletic Injuries/complications , Athletic Injuries/nursing , Cellulitis/etiology , Cellulitis/nursing , Female , Foot Injuries/complications , Foot Injuries/nursing , Frostbite/complications , Humans , Middle Aged , Rewarming/methods , Rewarming/nursing , Treatment Outcome , Treatment RefusalSubject(s)
Frostbite/drug therapy , Frostbite/nursing , Pentoxifylline/therapeutic use , Vasodilator Agents/therapeutic use , Adult , Ankle Injuries/diagnosis , Ankle Injuries/drug therapy , Ankle Injuries/nursing , Athletic Injuries/diagnosis , Athletic Injuries/drug therapy , Athletic Injuries/nursing , Emergency Medical Services/methods , Emergency Nursing/methods , Foot Injuries/diagnosis , Foot Injuries/drug therapy , Foot Injuries/nursing , Frostbite/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Skiing/injuriesSubject(s)
Cold Temperature/adverse effects , Emergency Treatment/methods , Emergency Treatment/nursing , Frostbite/nursing , Hypothermia/nursing , Seasons , Skiing/injuries , Emergency Nursing/methods , First Aid/methods , Frostbite/etiology , Humans , Hypothermia/etiology , Nursing Assessment/methods , Risk Factors , Self Care/methodsABSTRACT
Nurses need to know how to provide emergency care to victims of wintertime injuries and illnesses--and how to survive such circumstances themselves. In this article, the author, a ski patrol member, describes cold-weather strategies and how to respond to hypothermia, frostbite, winter sports injuries, and avalanches.