Caring for Environmental Emergencies Chapter 16 Flashcards
In which of the following situations is the patient losing body heat primarily by conduction?
A. A 66 year old male is found lying on the frozen ground without a coat.
B. A 14 year old male is wearing wet clothing after falling out of his boat while fishing.
C. A 23 year old female is outside in cool, windy weather.
D. An elderly female is breathing into the cool night air.
A. A 66 year old male is found lying on the frozen ground without a coat.
More serious heat-related injuries should be suspected when the patient presents with: A. Feeling lightheaded. B. muscle cramps. C. Hot, dry skin. D. Weakness.
C. Hot, dry skin.
Your patient is a 34 year old male who has been working outside in a hot, humid climate. He is alert & oriented, complaining of feeling weak & dizzy. His skin is cool & moist, & he has a heart rate of 104, a blood pressure of 110/70, & respirations of 16. You should:
A. Place cold packs at the groin, armpits, & neck.
B. Move the patient to a cool area in the shade.
C. Offer the patient some salt crackers.
D. Wet the skin, turn the AC on high, & vigorously fan the patient.
B. move the patient to a cool area in the shade.
A patient who is experiencing an abnormally low body core temperature is said to be: A. Hyperthermic B. Cyanotic C. Hypothermic D. Hyperglycemia
C. Hypothermic
An injury characterized by the freezing or near freezing of a body part is known as: A. Frostbite B. Frostnip C. Hypothermia D. Cold bite
A. Frostbite
All of the following are appropriate steps in the management of a patient with a generalized cold emergency EXEPT:
A. Removing the patient from the cold environment.
B. Protecting him from further heat loss.
C. Providing warm liquids to drink.
D. Monitoring his vital signs.
C. Providing warm liquids to drink.
A patient who presents with warm, moist skin; weakness; & nausea is likely experiencing: A. Heat exhaustion B. Heat stroke C. Heat cramps D. Mild heat stroke
A. Heat exhaustion
Your patient was hiking & was bitten on the ankle by a rattlesnake. When caring for this patient, you should:
A. Keep the foot lower than the level of the patient’s heart.
B. Elevate the foot on pillows.
C. Apply a tourniquet above the bite.
D. Apply ice to the area of the bite.
A. Keep the foot lower than the level of the patient’s heart.
It is late winter & you respond to an alley to find a homeless man lying on the ground. Your patient presents with confusion, shivering, & muscle stiffness. Based on his presentation, this man's likely problem is: A. A localized cold injury. B. Frostnip C. Generalized frostbite D. Generalized hypothermia
D. Generalized hypothermia
You are caring for a person who fell from a rope swing, landed in the water, & is now unresponsive. She has a large laceration on the top of her head. You should: A. Suspect spine injury. B. Begin CPR in the water. C. Drag her by one arm to shore. D. Wait for EMS before beginning care.
A. Suspect spine injury.
How do you provide care for injected poisons other than snakebite?
- Care for shock
- Scrape away stingers & venom sacs
- Place an ice bag or cold pack over the area
How do you care for snakebite?
- Keep the patient calm & lying down.
- Keep bitten extremities immobilized.
- Alert dispatch.
- Provide care for shock.
Many submersion injuries are related to the sport of scuba diving & result when a person ascends too quickly. True or False?
True
What condition results when tiny gas bubbles form in the tissues, causing pain?
The “Bends”
What happens in severe cases of Bends”?
The bubbles form an air embolism, resulting in death.
What are the signs of anaphylactic shock?
Burning or itching skin Hives Difficulty breathing Rapid, weak pulse Swelling of the face & tongue Cyanosis Altered mental status
How does the body lose heat?
- Radiation
- Conduction
- Convection
- Evaporation
- Respiration
An abnormally high body temperature is called:
Hyperthermia
Early signs & symptoms of hyperthermia are:
- Cramps
- Excessive Sweating
- Rapid weak pulse
- Weakness
Heat cramps are:
Sudden & sometimes severe muscle cramps, most often occurring in the legs.
In cold environments, body heat may be lost quicker than it can be generated. True or False?
True
What do frostbite patients experience?
In the affected area:
- Feeling of cold
- Pain
- Numbness or tingling
What is the process of maintaining proper body temperature & where is it controlled?
Temperature regulation
The brain through various processes
When does hyperthermia occur?
When the when the body’s heat gain is faster than the heat can be shed.
What is radiation?
The loss of body heat to the atmosphere or nearby objects without physical contact.
What is conduction?
Transferring of body heat through direct contact with another object or the ground.
What is convection?
Body heat lost to the surrounding air & moves away, replaced by cooler air. Wind can greatly increase the affects of convection..
What is evaporation?
Body heat lost when perspiration is changed from liquid to vapor. Wind can greatly increase the effectiveness of evaporation.
What is respiration?
Loss of body heat through the act of breathing.
What is ‘core temperature ‘.
The temperature in the core of the body (typically 98.6 degrees F or 37 degrees C
What serves as the body’s thermometer?
Hypothalamus
What is heat exhaustion?
Prolonged exposure to heat, which creates moist, pale skin that may feel normal or cool to the touch.
What is heat stroke?
Prolonged exposure to heat, which creates dry or moist skin that may feel warm or hot tithe touch. It is a life threatening condition.
Young children & the elderly are less likely to be susceptible to the cold. True or False?
False-more susceptible
Between 7-8,000 people in the US are bitten by poisonous snakes each year with fewer than 20 deaths reported annually. True or False?
True
More people die from snake bites than bee or wasp bites. True or False?
False-more with bee & wasp bites than snake bites.
What is drowning?
A process resulting in respiratory impairment from submersion in water or other type of liquid.
What is a PFD?
Personal flotation devise
What is mammalian diving reflex?
When the face of a person or other mammal is submerged in cold water, the slowing down of the body’s metabolism, which results in a decrease in oxygen consumption resulting in a redistribution of blood to vital (brain, heart, & lungs) organs.
What is decompression sickness?
Individuals who have come up too quickly from a deep, prolonged dive.
The special unit used to provide oxygen under greatly increased pressure conditions is called a:
Hyperbaric chamber
