TRAINEE GUIDE - Recruit Training Command - The US Navy

TRAINEE GUIDE A-950-0001
OUTLINE SHEET 5-01-1 (continued)
(1) Superficial frostbite
(a) Characteristics: Freezing of the top layers of skin.
(b) Symptoms
1 Skin reddening, pain, and uncomfortable coldness.
2 Skin color changes to white or bluish white.
3 Area becomes numb and feels cold and hard.
4 Skin and tissue WILL move over bony ridges.
(c) Treatment
(2) Deep frostbite
1 Move the victim to a sheltered area.
2 Rewarm hands and feet by placing them directly
against a warm body.
3 Rewarm the affected areas by warm water immersion
as soon as safe and possible.
4 Frostbitten areas should NEVER be massaged or
covered with any salves.
(a) Characteristics: Freezing of the deep layers of
tissue.
(b) Symptoms: Same as superficial frostbite except the
skin will not move over bony ridges.
(c) Treatment
1 Do NOT attempt to thaw if there is a possibility
that the area will freeze again.
2 Severe exposure cases may require cardiopulmonary
resuscitation before the frozen area can be
treated.
3 When adequate facilities and personnel are
available:
a Make the victim a litter case. The
individual must be secured on a stretcher
from the place of the emergency to a
medical facility as soon as possible.
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