EMS Environmental Emergencies Practice Test

Which sign is commonly associated with frostbite injury in the limbs?

Redness and warmth Painful blistering immediately Itching and rash Pale or white skin, numbness, waxy feel, swelling

Correct Answer:

Pale or white skin, numbness, waxy feel, swelling

Explanation:

Frostbite injures tissue when skin and deeper layers freeze from exposure to cold. The hallmark sign is pale or white skin with numbness and a waxy, firm feel, often accompanied by swelling as the area responds to thawing. This combination reflects the cold-induced loss of blood flow and nerve function in the affected limb. Redness and warmth would indicate heat injury or inflammation, not frostbite. Itching and rash point to dermatitis or allergic reactions, which are unrelated to frostbite. Immediate painful blistering is more typical of burns or inflammatory skin conditions, and not the characteristic early frostbite sign. So the pale or white skin, numbness, waxy texture, and swelling best describe frostbite in the limb.

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