How to be Canadian

Step 6 How to treat frostbite

Well, you pretty much learned how to live as a Canadian but there is one important skill you have to learn if you want to survive. I mean it is to be cold all year long even in the summer so you have high chances you're going to be frostbitten before to long.

1.First, call for help.

2.Keep the affected part elevated in order to reduce swelling .

3.Move to a warm area to prevent further heat loss.

4.Remove all constrictive jewelry and clothes because they may further block blood flow.

5.Give the person warm, nonalcoholic, noncaffeinated fluids to drink.

6.Apply a dry, sterile bandage, place cotton between any involved fingers or toes (to prevent rubbing), and take the person to a medical facility as soon as possible.

7.Never rewarm an affected area if there is any chance it may freeze again. This thaw-refreeze cycle is very harmful and leads to disastrous results.

8.Also, avoid a gradual thaw either in the field or in the transport vehicle. The most effective method is to rewarm the area quickly. Therefore, keep the injured part away from sources of heat until you arrive at a treatment facility where proper rewarming can take place.

9.Do not rub the frozen area with snow (or anything else, for that matter). The friction created by this technique will only cause further tissue damage.

10.The final amount of tissue destruction is proportional to the time it remains frozen, not to the absolute temperature to which it was exposed. Therefore, rapid transport to a hospital is very important.

Comments

[JTomM129]

Guess only we depraved USA types who would think of it but you can remove your tongue from the flagpole by pissing on it Warm urin at 98.6 deg.).

[H-Sama]

You forgot to mention Bob and Doug Macenzie. Our gods.

[Oryctolagus habilis]

If the frostbite is due to sticking one's tongue to a flagpole, afraid no-one can help you!