Loading...
Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — After days in wet boots or floodwater, feet are numb, pale, swollen, or painful — immersion foot injury.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Numb pale feet after hours or days wet.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Pain returning with swelling and blisters as feet warm.
Scene hazards: Tissue death, Infection in flood conditions
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Get out of wet boots. Pat dry with clean cloth.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Put on dry socks if available — do not force into tight wet boots.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Air dry at room temperature 30 minutes before gentle re-warming.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Check toes for colour and feeling.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Clinic if blisters, open sores, or diabetes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — 112 if foot turning black or foul smell — possible gangrene.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Antibiotics and wound care for infected immersion foot.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Prevention: rotate dry socks and air feet daily in prolonged wet work.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT use hot water bottle or fire directly on cold wet feet.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT walk long distances on damaged feet — worsens injury.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Trench foot only happens in freezing snow
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Immersion foot occurs in cool wet conditions above freezing — common in monsoon floods.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ignoring numb wet feet until tissue dies.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Prolonged wet cold damages small blood vessels in feet even above freezing.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Common in floods, trenches, and long wet treks.