In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, three people died from hypothermia

In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, 53 people went to hospitals with complaints of frostbite and hypothermia. This was reported by the regional Ministry of Health.

In total, as of December 1, doctors hospitalized 26 people, and later three of them died. 27 residents of the region received outpatient care. There were three children among those who applied for frostbite; none of them were admitted to the hospital.

Specialists from the Krasnoyarsk Regional Territorial Center for Disaster Medicine point out that frostbite can occur even at slightly sub-zero temperatures, especially if prolonged exposure to the open air is accompanied by strong winds and high humidity. Frostbite is also caused by wet, tight clothing and shoes, physical fatigue and hunger.

What assistance can be provided to the victim first:

First of all, you need to bring the person from the cold into the warmth and give him warm sweet tea. Further assistance depends on the degree of damage to the body. It is advisable for the victim to breathe warm air. To do this, you can sit him near a heating radiator or point a hairdryer at him.

It is strictly forbidden to:

Rub the affected area with mittens, alcohol, and oil. Such rubbing will only aggravate the condition of the affected area and further damage the skin. Moreover, some try to rub the affected part of the body with a warming ointment or alcohol, this can lead to a thermal burn.

Apply cold to the affected area. Many people make this mistake by rubbing frostbitten parts of the body with snow, ice and applying cold objects. With such “help” the frostbite will go further.

Apply hot. A sudden change in temperature will lead to thermal burn. The same goes for warming frozen extremities in close proximity to a fire or radiator. The “principle of the opposite” is inappropriate here.

Tips from experts:

• When going outdoors, follow the “cabbage principle” when packing: dress warmly and in layers. Clothes and shoes should not be small; there should be an air gap between them;
• Don't stay in one position for a long time. Be sure to warm up, dispersing the blood throughout the body;
• Don't drink alcohol. Alcohol intoxication causes greater heat loss;
• Don't smoke in the cold. This reduces peripheral blood circulation and makes the limbs vulnerable;
• Do not wear gold and silver jewelry in cold weather. Firstly, the metal cools faster than the body (this helps the product “stick” to the skin). Secondly, rings on the fingers impede blood circulation;
• Hide from the wind. In the wind, the likelihood of frostbite increases significantly;
• Do not remove shoes from frozen feet in the cold. They will swell and it will be impossible to put on your shoes again.

Remember, you absolutely cannot “warm up” with alcohol. Alcohol, contrary to rumors, does not cure frostbite. According to statistics, almost all severe frostbite that led to amputation of a limb occurred while the person was intoxicated.