In other words, body tissue is frozen as a result of blood vessels contracting in response to cold temperatures, reducing blood flow and oxygen to the skin and extremities in order to increase said flow to internal organs. This assists in supplying the body's core with more nutrients and warmth, preventing internal body temperature from dropping to hypothermic levels.
Most of the time, it's exposed skin that's at risk of frostbite, but if temperatures are cold enough and one remains in the cold long enough with insufficient wardrobe protection, even unexposed skin can freeze.
Sources: About.com First Aid, eMedecineHealth, Medscape, WebMD, Environment Canada
-
Frostbite FAQs
- What is frostbite?
- What does frostbite look like?
- How long does it take to get frostbitten?
- Could you provide me with a breakdown of what to wear and what to do depending on the temperature and wind chill index?
- How do I prevent frostbite?
- What are the symptoms of frostbite?
- Who is most susceptible to frostbite?
- Who gets frostbite the most though?
- I think I may be frostbitten. What should I do?
