3 Things to Know When Managing and Preventing Frostbite, with Robert L. Sheridan, M.D.

The Educated Patient’s “Things to Know When” series highlights expert insights on essential topics for patients. In this installment, we cover key things to know when protecting yourself from frostbite — how to prevent it, recognize the warning signs and manage exposure to extreme cold.

Robert L. Sheridan, M.D., chief of staff and director of the burn service at Shriners Children’s Boston, emphasizes that prevention is the best approach when it comes to frostbite. He explains that one of the most critical aspects of prevention is awareness — not just of the cold itself, but of how exposure can impair a person’s ability to recognize the warning signs.

When the body gets cold, cognitive function slows down, making it harder to assess danger, and numbness in affected areas can mask developing frostbite. Because of this, Sheridan stresses the importance of staying vigilant for both yourself and those around you, especially children who may struggle to communicate discomfort.

While minor cases of frostbite can often be managed with gentle rewarming, people who have experienced significant cold exposure may develop long-term sensitivity to cold. For those with a history of frostbite, he cautions that future cold exposure may pose an increased risk and that extra precautions should be taken.

3 Things to Know When Managing and Preventing Frostbite:

• Awareness of the problem: Recognizing that cold can impair both mental processing and sensory awareness, making it difficult to notice frostbite in yourself or others.
• Taking care of each other: Avoid going out in extreme cold alone and frequently check on those around you, especially children.
• Understanding the range of injury and long-term effects: Frostbite can range from mild to severe, and even minor cases can lead to long-term sensitivity to cold due to damage to tiny blood vessels.

Editor’s note: This is created for the purposes of education and is not medical advice.