SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/frostbite-warming

A friend's fingers are numb, pale, and frostbitten. How should you warm them up?

Warm frostbitten skin in warm, not hot, water, and never rub it with snow or hold it to a fire.

  1. Rub them with snow so they warm up slowly
  2. Hold them close to the campfire or a heater
  3. Soak them in warm, not hot, water and don't rub them ✔

Why: Rubbing, even with snow, hurts frozen skin more. Numb fingers can't feel heat, so a fire or heater can burn them without anyone noticing. Soak them in warm water for about 30 minutes, and get help from a doctor.

Huh, didn't know that: Soak them in warm water for about 30 minutes, and get help from a doctor.

The dad joke
What do you get if you cross a snowman and a shark? Frostbite.
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Sources

  1. Mayo Clinic: Frostbite First Aid https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-frostbite/basics/art-20056653
  2. CDC: Preventing Hypothermia and Frostbite https://www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/prevention/index.html
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That's stuff everyone should know.