How do you treat frostbite?

I was thinking about this today. Let's say you have frostbitten hands. Can you submerge them in hot water? Warm water? Keep them dry? What would they do at the hospital?

This depends on whether it's true frostbite or just "frostnip".

While they both may exhibit some degree of numbness as a symptom, areas affected by frostbite tend to be cold, solid and appear pale and waxy; whereas frostnip the skin should still maintain some of it's turgor and elasticity.

In either case, you'll want to warm up the area as rapidly as possible. Only do this if there's little chance of the area freezing again. Fill a bucket/tub/basin/etc with slightly above body temperature water. It should feel warm, not hot, on an unaffected body part. Immerse the extremity in the water... if possible, try to avoid rubbing up against the sides/bottom of the container.

I'd also recommend Ibuprofen to relieve the pain/inflammation.

Frostbitten areas may often later develop blisters (both clear and bloody).

If you're not familiar with the differences between frostbite and frostnip, or have any concerns regarding treatment, you're best off visiting a local clinic or hospital as only a doctor can truly furnish you with medical advice.

not hot water... the best I think Is take a handcloth and fill it with warm water them wrap your hands in it OR

take a heating pad and put a towel over it and put your hands on the towel (so the heat is not so direct and its dry rather than wet which can make you cold)

Run mildly frostbitten areas under cool water until the water feels cool. It will feel warm at first, which is why you don't use warm or hot water. Once the water feels cool to cold, then you can move the water to warm until you start to have feeling again (tingling). If the frostbite is moderate to severe, you must seek medical attention to make sure the part doesn't have to be amputated. The best way, if you're not where you can get indoors quickly, place the frostbitten part on the stomach of someone who isn't affected. Yeah, I know, sucks, but body heat is the best way to slowly warm parts back up. If it's your own hands, put them inside your coat in your armpits to warm them back up.

You want to imediately warm the tissue as fast as possible. This is done by using warm water, not hot. Get to a hospital as fast as possible. You could soak towels in hot water, squeeze them out, and wrap the area, surrounded by dry towels to keep in the warmth on your way to the ER.