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Frostbite — DIPIMC MCQ

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HardEnvironmental MedicineFrostbiteDIPIMCDipIMC

A mountaineer has white, hard, numb fingers consistent with frostbite. The evacuation will be prolonged and there is a real risk of the tissue refreezing.

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D — Avoid rewarming until refreezing can be prevented; protect the part, then rewarm in warm water in a controlled setting

Explanation lettering: D = shown as A · E = shown as C · C = shown as D · A = shown as E

Frostbitten tissue should not be thawed if there is a risk of refreezing, because repeated freeze-thaw cycles cause far worse damage, so the part is protected during evacuation and rewarmed once - ideally in warm water around 37-39 degrees - in a controlled setting. Rubbing with snow (A) causes mechanical injury, and direct dry heat (D) can burn insensate skin. Avoid the freeze-thaw-refreeze cycle and rewarm definitively, not repeatedly.

Reference: Wilderness medicine guidance; JRCALC