Cold Injury

Question 1

Enviroment

Answer 1

remove the patient from the cold as soon as it is safe to do so after completing the primary survey; if the patient is trapped, prevent additional heat loss (e.g. cover with a blanket or put a blanket between the patient and ground);
- are we outside
- whats the temp outside

Question 2

consider

Answer 2

a. severe hypothermia,
b. severe frostbite, and
c. underlying disorders/precipitating factors (e.g. alcohol/drug ingestion, hypoglycemia,
trauma);

Question 3

determine

Answer 3

a. duration of exposure, and
b. type of exposure;

Question 4

during secondary

Answer 4

a. only expose areas that are being examined; cover the area as soon as assessment is
completed,
b. if hypothermia is known or suspected, attempt to determine the severity of
hypothermia, and
c. if frostbite is known or suspected, attempt to determine the severity of frostbite (e.g.
mild blanching of skin [frostnip]; skin waxy/white, supple [superficial frostbite]; skin
cold, hard and wooden [deep frostbite]);

Question 5

mild hypothermia

Answer 5

a. wrap the patient’s body/affected parts in a blanket or foil rescue blanket, and
b. provide external re-warming, as available (e.g. hot packs, hot water bottles) to axillae,
groin, neck and head

Question 6

severe hypothermia(no shiver)

Answer 6

a. wrap the patient’s body/affected parts in a blanket or foil rescue blanket, and
b. when suction is required, do not perform vigorous suctioning or airway manipulation
as it may trigger ventricular fibrillation;

Question 7

Frostbite

Answer 7

a. wrap the patient’s body/affected parts in a blanket or foil rescue blanket, cover and
protect the part,
b. not rub or massage the skin,
c. leave blisters intact, and
d. if dressing digits, dress digits separately.