Recognize and Treat Frostbite

Prevent Jack Frost from biting you with information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Freezing temperatures may cause frostbite if you are outside for too long. Frostbite is a bodily injury caused by freezing that results in loss of feeling and color in affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases may lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite increases in people with reduced blood circulation and those not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures.

At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin—frostbite may be beginning. Any of the following signs may indicate frostbite:

• White or grayish-yellow skin area.
• Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy.
• Numbness.

As soon as you detect the symptoms of frostbite, seek medical care. First, determine whether the victim also shows signs of hypothermia. Hypothermia is a more serious medical condition and requires emergency medical assistance. If there is frostbite but no sign of hypothermia and immediate medical care is not available, proceed as follows:

• Get into a warm room as soon as possible.
• Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all. This can cause more damage.
• Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes as this increases the damage.
• Immerse the affected area in warm—not hot—water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body).
• Do not use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can be easily burned.

Taking preventive action is your best defense against having to deal with extreme cold-weather conditions. For more information on frostbite, visit the CDC’s Frostbite page.