Question:

Rewarming in frostbite should be done at what temperature?

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The water should be warm like the body, not hot enough to scald numb, injured skin.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • 37 degrees
  • 42 degrees
  • 44 degrees
  • 46 degrees
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understand the injury. In frostbite, exposure to below freezing temperature lets ice crystals form between cells and the tissue freezes.
Step 2: Principle of rewarming. The treatment is rapid rewarming in a water bath. The water should be warm but not scalding, around body temperature, so the frozen part thaws without thermal burn.
Step 3: Choose the temperature. Among the options, 37 degrees is closest to safe body temperature and is the marked answer. Higher temperatures such as 44 to 46 degrees risk burning the already injured, numb tissue and are criticized.
Step 4: Practical points. Rewarming lasts about 20 minutes at a time, and warm fluids by mouth help general rewarming. So the answer is 37 degrees. Ref: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27e.
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