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Frostbite — DIPIMC MCQ

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ModerateEnvironmental MedicineFrostbiteDIPIMCDipIMC

A mountaineer has white, hard, numb fingers. Further cold exposure is likely during a long evacuation.

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

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Correct answer: E — Protect the part from further injury and delay active rewarming if refreezing is likely.

Frostbite is ideally rewarmed in warm water once definitive care is assured, but if refreezing is likely during evacuation it is better to keep the part protected and delay rewarming, because a freeze-thaw-refreeze cycle worsens tissue loss. Rubbing with snow and applying direct flame heat cause further damage. Blisters are left intact in the field.

Reference: JRCALC Clinical Guidelines