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The treatment may be painful, but pain can be controlled with narcotics. Following this, sterile moderate-compression dressings should be applied to control the edema before it develops. Some authorities advise no dressings. However, some form of sterile protection should be afforded while the patient is being transported. Antibiotics are begun immediately, and the patient should not be allowed to walk if a foot is involved. Certain circumstances may make it expedient for a climber to descend under his own power to a more appropriate camp with feet still frozen rather than to attempt to thaw them on the trail, thereby becoming totally a litter case. Less damage comes from walking on the feet or toes that are frozen than walking on them after they have thawed. |
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