Gently re-warm the frostbitten extremity in luke-warm water (approx. 94F). As the extremity may be numb, be very careful about using warm and not hot water. Do NOT warm the extremity if there is a change it will re-freeze (e.g. you are still in an exposed position). Also, be advised that, if circulation returns, the results are quite painful. If possible, be prepared to treat for pain. Subsequent blackening of the exposed tissue indicates potential of necrosis, which may require amputation. Note that the idea of rubbing the frostbitten area with snow is purely a wive's tale and invariably will do more harm.

The three stages are usually called frostnip, superficial frostbite, and deep frostbite. In stage 1 (frostnip), the skin reddens and then turns white. The area may feel numb. In the second stage of frostbite(superficial), the external layer of skin is frozen, but underneath is still soft. The area may appear grayish-yellow. In the final stage of frostbite(deep frostbite) the entire area is solid, and may appear grayish-blue.

Frostbite is the destruction of tissue due to exposure to very low temperatures.

190 in the U.S.A.

If you see the signs of redness, pain, itchiness, hardness, and puffiness and the beginning of it turning black get OUT OF THE COLD AND CONTACT A DOCTOR. There is also a first aid advice kit online. To prevent frostbite though wear a warm coat, gloves, ear muffs, scarf, and a hat, warm shoes. STAY WARM AND DON'T GET COLD.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4663820_tell-have-frostbite.html

Initially, watch out for itching and pain and eventually numbness on the surface of the skin, as well as discolored patches (white, red, or yellow). This is the first stage and typically only affects the surface layers of skin. If patches of skin are frozen hard and waxy, you may be into second or even third degree frostbite.

Frostbite is freezing of the skin and body tissues just under the skin. It can occur when part of your body is exposed to temperatures or wind chills at or below freezing.

You know you have frost bite if the skin appears pale, hard, and cold to the touch. When you go inside to warm up, your hands will turn red and become very painful.

First aid for frost bite is to re-warm the affected skin. Running a frostbit hand under warm (NOT HOT) water is an effective method for warming the skin. The victim should be checked out by a physician promptly because tissue damage can be extensive. In some rare cases, re-warming is not advisable. If you are far from help and your hand is liable to re-freeze, the re-freezing may do more harm than if the skin had remained frozen.

The area most at risk are fingers, toes, ears, and nose. Theses areas receive limited blood flow under normal circumstances. Adding the cold weather that is necessary to do damage, the body shunts blood from peripheral circulation to conserve heat. The tissues dies because a lack of blood flow.

Stefansson, the famed Arctic explorer, declared that "few things could be more absurd" than the snow cure for frostbite. What you should do, he said, "is to take your warm hand out of your mitten and press it on the frozen spot for a moment until the whiteness and stiffness is gone."

inadequate clothing, previous cold injury, fatigue, wound infection, atherosclerosis (an arterial disease), and diabetes. Driving in poor weather can also be dangerous: vehicular failure was a predisposing factor in 15% of the Saskatchewan cases

If someone has frostbite, which means that their flesh is frozen, the expanded ice crystals inside the cells of the skin, muscle, blood vessels, etc will grate together and break down the cell walls if you rub it.

Think about taking a frozen cut of meat, then rubbing a corner of it. The tissue would begin to break down, you would eventually end up with a pulpy mass.

If you think you have frostbite, get medical attention to save the toe/limb/frozen area.

It takes 18 hrs with a child with medical issues. without medical issues it takes several days being completly exposed

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Are you mad?! You're going to lose someone digits with an answer like that!

Frostbite can set in within a matter of a few minutes to a few hours, depending on conditions in addition to the ambient temperature and windspeed, factors such as: degree of exposure, wet vs. dry skin, and the degree of circulation in the area in question. Windchill is of chief concern, as high winds dramatically increase the rate of heat loss from exposed areas.

At any temperature near or below freezing, the human body automatically shunts blood flow away from the extremities to preserve core temperature (and help prevent hypothermia). Fingers, toes, nose, cheeks, and ears are the most at-risk areas.

Those with medical conditions such as diabetes that reduce circulation in the extremities in particular face an increased risk.

Also, tight or restrictive clothing can be problematic. Wearing too many layers of socks inside one's boots, for example, is a common mistake leading to further reduction of bloodflow to feet and toes. The increased insulation is of little value once new heat is no longer flowing from the body's core.

Initial symptoms of first-degree frostbite include itching, pain, and eventual numbness in the exposed area; as well as yellow, white, or red patches of skin.

Caution should be exercised any time temperatures are near or below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius), particularly in windy and/or damp conditions.

As soon as possible, get to a safe, warm environment. Make sure the body's core temperature is stable and normal before you begin working on the extremities.

If a warm, stable environment is not readily available, do not begin warming, as re-freezing will do additional damage. Do your best to protect the area from excessive motion and additional freezing and get to a safe environment as soon as possible.

Begin warming the affected area carefully and gently. The idea is to minimize tissue damage, so do not expose it to sources of intense heat or cold, as additional burning or freezing may result (also, reawakening nerves can be hypersensitive).

DO NOT RUB OR MASSAGE the affected area. Ice crystals can form in the tissue, and the motion will cause them to cut and tear, doing additional damage. Minimize movement of the damaged tissue.

Wrap the individual in warmed blankets. This allows gentle, passive warming. It has the added benefit of helping to ensure that core temperature remains stable if hypothermia is a concern (a sudden influx of cold blood from warming extremities as the body's natural constriction of blood flow relaxes can cause clots or shock the heart).

Active warming should be typically be performed by professionals, due to some of the potential complications discussed above. Passive warming should be sufficient for minor, surface frostbite. If any deeper freezing is suspected, medical attention should be obtained as soon as possible. Hard, waxy patches may be a sign of 2nd degree frostbite. Bluish or blackened areas are especially concerning, particularly if an entire digit has changed color.

Not sure about wind speed, but I do know the temperature at which frostbite sets in.

At negative forty (-40) degrees Fahrenheit, frostbite will begin to set in around your fingers and toes and slowly "creep" towards the center of your body as the temperature steadily falls. Frostbite occurs when the body detects extreme cold. The brain sends a message to blood vessels to "call in the troops" to protect and warm the vital organs. Your brain basically uses your limbs as cannon fodder to keep your heart, lungs, and other vital organs safe from the extremely cold temperatures.

No at negative forty Fahrenheit frostbite will not creep up it will set in fast. It will be within ten min on fingers and toes if you are not dressed properly. With any kind of wind on top of that it will be faster yet. wind plays a very large factor on what the air temperature feels like. For example, at -10F with a 5 mph wind the air temperature feels like -22F.

Usually the infected area gets its blood supply cut off and eventually turns black and falls off. (but don't quote me on that.)

It freezes the skin then freezes more and more and more until your fingers turn black. It also stops blood from passing thru your veins.

BASICLY: It feel like your hands are on fire then they go numb.

1. Move the person into shelter. Remove the wet clothing, and get him/her some warm clothes. Wrap the person in blankets, jackets, or anything handy that can be used to heat him/her.

2. If fully conscious and able to swallow, have him/her drink warm liquids. (soup, fruit juices or water)

3.Put towels or T-shirts around water bottles filled with warm water, then position the bottles in the armpit and groin areas.

4.Watch the person closely for any change in his/her condition. Call for help.

Very seldom now days! Only the western and southern mountains get any significant snowfall over the course of the year. Seems to rain more than it snows in the rest of the state. This almost never happened years ago.

This... sounds like an attempt to dodge homework, not to put too fine a point on it.

FYI, though, that is a terrible treatment option and will cause more tissue damage than warming the feet by other means.

put your hands under warm water for 5 minetes