Place victim in as much insulation as possible (sleeping bags, blankets, et cetera).
If you have any source of heat, apply it to the chest and armpits. This could
include a heat pack (fueled by electricity, chemicals, or charcoal, for instance),
warm water bottles, or a healthy (that is, a warm) member of the group.
If possible, wrap the victim loosely in a vapor barrier such as plastic.
Only if the victim is awake and alert, give him or her food or drink with high
caloric value (for example, hot chocolate or a chocolate bar). Monitor the victim
for problems breathing and signs of worsening condition. Also check the feet
and hands to make sure they are not getting cold.Frostbite: Frostbite can have devastating effects, especially if treated
improperly. For more than 200 years, the common remedy for frostbite
was to rub the frozen area with snow or submerge it in cold water. This
was an overreaction and is no longer recommended. Here are the do’s
and don’ts of frostbite treatment:
Never rub frostbite.
Never expose frostbite to anything cold.
Never try to warm frostbite with dry heat from a fire or over a stove.
Never rewarm a frostbitten area if there is a chance it could freeze again
(e.g., if you are out in the mountains with several days remaining to walk
to safety).
Warm a frostbitten area either by contact with warm human skin or by
immersion in warm water at about 99 ̊F (37 ̊C).
Do not burst any blisters that may develop.
Resist amputating dark or even black tissue; in many instances much or all of
the tissue may survive, given enough time and tender care.stroud’s Tip
Remember this rhyme: fingers, toes, ears, and nose.
These are the areas that are prone to frostbite.(^306) | Survive!