4305 Frostbite/ Hypothermia

Question 1

Pertinent Environmental Findings

Answer 1

Heat loss through: evaporation, conduction, convection, radiation
Water immersion
Cold
Inadequate clothing or shelter

Question 2

Pertinent Hx

Answer 2

Environmental exposure
Neonate, geriatric, pediatric
Severe malutrition, hypoglycemia
Alcoholism, mental illness, homeless
Trauma, stroke, OD
Hypothyroid, hypopituitarism, sepsis
Use of alcohol, analgesics, Antihistamines, sedatives
Overcooling of burns, heat illness, hyperthermia

Question 3

Pertinent Physical Findings

Answer 3

Shivering and chills
Tachypnea
AMS- irritability, poor judgement, slurred speech, impaired coordination, apathy, removing clothing, stupor coma
Frostbite
Arrythmia
Hypoventilation and Bradycardia
Pupils dilated and sluggish
Cardiac arrest

Question 4

Differential Diagnoses

Answer 4

AEIOUTIPS

Question 5

Emergency Stabilization

Answer 5

Remove from cold, remove wet clothing and dry, wrap and cover with warm blankets, move to heated environment, individually wrap, cover, and protect areas of cold injured tissue. do not rub

Obtain baseline temp, tympanic, temporal, axillary, touch

Obtain BGL

Warm NS bolus

Fentanyl for pain associated with frostbite