ch. 32 environmental emergencies

Question 1

Hypothermia is diagnosed when the core body temperature falls below what temperature?

Answer 1

95 degrees F. (35 C)

Question 2

Shivering stops and muscle activity ceases once the body’s core temperature reaches what?

Answer 2

90 degrees F (32.2 C)

Question 3

Rough handling a patient with severe hypothermia may cause which of the following dysrhythmias?

Answer 3

Ventricular fibrillation

Question 4

In the context of an environment that is 90 degrees F with 85% humidity, what does moist, pale, cool skin indicate?

Answer 4

There has been excessive fluid and salt loss

Question 5

What is the first sign of heat stroke?

Answer 5

change in behavior

Question 6

In which of the following environmental emergencies are you most likely to encounter laryngospasm?

Answer 6

drowning

Question 7

What is the most dangerous, and most common emergency in scuba diving?

Answer 7

air embolism

Question 8

You are treating a patient who was climbing a 10,000 ft mountain when he began to experience a severe, constant, throbbing headache; ataxia; and extreme fatigue. He is nauseated and as you assess him, he loses consciousness. Which of the following should you expect?

Answer 8

HACE

Question 9

You suspect the patient you are treating was bitten by a rattlesnake. What do you do first?

Answer 9

Place the patient in a supine position

Question 10

A person who strands outside in windy, wintry weather and wears only lightweight clothing is experiencing heat loss mainly by what method?

Answer 10

convection

Question 11

Breath-holding syncope is caused by a decreased stimulus to breathe and occurs when

Answer 11

A swimmer hyperventilates prior to entering the water

Question 12

All of the following snakes are pit vipers, except:

Answer 12

coral snake

Question 13

Signs and symptoms of an air embolism include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Answer 13

pale skin

Question 14

Which of the following statements regarding lightning strike is correct?

Answer 14

Lightening strikes may cause cardiac dysrhythmias that spontaneously resolve

Question 15

The venom of a brown recluse spider is cytotoxic, meaning that it:

Answer 15

causes severe local tissue damage.

Question 16

After being stung on the leg by a jellyfish, a man complains of severe pain to his leg, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. He has a red rash covering his trunk and his blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg. The EMT should:

Answer 16

Administer oxygen and epinephrine and prepare for rapid transport

Question 17

A frostbitten foot can be identified by the presence of:

Answer 17

Mottling and blisters

Question 18

Signs of late heatstroke include:

Answer 18

a weak, rapid pulse.

Question 19

You are assessing a 33-year-old male who complains of severe abdominal pain, weakness, and nausea. He tells you that he was gathering wood to build a fire when he felt a sudden, sharp pain on the back of his hand. Your assessment reveals that the patient’s abdomen is rigid and painful to palpation. You should suspect:

Answer 19

black widow spider bite

Question 20

Which of the following statements regarding drowning is correct?

Answer 20

Laryngospasm following submersion in water makes rescue breathing difficult.

Question 21

A patient with a core body temperature of 95°F (35°C) will MOST likely experience:

Answer 21

Rapid breathing

Question 22

You are dispatched to a residence for a young female who is sick. The patient complains of a rash to her lower extremities and truncal area. Your assessment reveals a small, painful blister on her inner thigh. As your partner is taking the patient’s vital signs, she states that she and her family returned from a camping trip 2 days ago. On the basis of this patient’s presentation, you should suspect:

Answer 22

Lyme disease

Question 23

A dysbarism injury refers to the signs and symptoms related to changes in:

Answer 23

Barometric pressure

Question 24

The transfer of heat to circulating air, such as when cool air moves across the body’s surface, is called:

Answer 24

convection

Question 25

Geriatric patients, newborns, and infants are especially prone to hyperthermia because they:

Answer 25

Exhibit poor thermoregulation

Question 26

Shivering is a mechanism in which the body generates heat by:

Answer 26

increasing the metabolic rate.

Question 27

The diving reflex may allow a person to survive extended periods of submersion in cold water secondary to:

Answer 27

Bradycardia and a slowing of the metabolic rate

Question 28

Air bubbles in the blood vessels

Answer 28

Air embolism

Question 29

The temperature of the surrounding environment

Answer 29

Ambient temperature

Question 30

A serum that counteracts the effect of venom from an animal or insect

Answer 30

Antivenin

Question 31

A common name for decompression sickness

Answer 31

bends

Question 32

The loss of heat by direct contact when a body part comes into contact (with cold object)

Answer 32

conduction

Question 33

The loss of body heat caused by air movement

Answer 33

convection

Question 34

The temperature of the central part of the body

Answer 34

core temperature

Question 35

A painful condition in divers who ascend too quickly, and which gas, especially nitrogen, forms bubbles in blood vessels and other tissues

Answer 35

decompression sickness

Question 36

The slowing of the heart rate caused by submerging in Coldwater

Answer 36

diving reflex

Question 37

Process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion or immersion in liquid

Answer 37

drowning

Question 38

Any signs and symptoms caused by the difference between the surrounding atmospheric pressure and the total gas pressure and various tissues, fluids, and cavities of the body

Answer 38

Dysbarism injuries

Question 39

Conversion of water or another liquid to gas

Answer 39

evaporation

Question 40

Damage to the tissues as the result of exposure to cold; frozen body parts

A condition in which the body core temperature falls below 95°F or 35°C after exposure to a cold environment

Answer 40

frostbite

Question 41

Painful muscle spasms usually associated with vigorous activity in a hot environment

Answer 41

heat cramps

Question 42

Painful muscle spasms usually associated with vigorous activity in a hot environment

Answer 42

heat exhaustion

Question 43

A life threatening condition of severe hypothermia caused by exposure to excessive natural or artificial heat, marked by warm, dry skin; severely altered mental status; and often a reversible,

Answer 43

heat stroke

Question 44

A balance of all the systems of the body

Answer 44

Homeostasis

Question 45

A condition in which the body core temperature rises to 101°F or 38.3°C or more

Answer 45

hyperthermia

Question 46

A condition in which the body core temperature falls below 95°F or 35°C after exposure to a cold environment

Answer 46

hypothermia

Question 47

A family of insects that includes bees, wasps, ants, and yellow jackets

Answer 47

Hymenoptera

Question 48

The transfer of heat to colder objects in the environment by radiant energy; for example heat gained from the fire

Answer 48

radiation

Question 49

The loss of body heat as warm air in the lungs is exhaled into the atmosphere and cooler air is inhaled

Answer 49

respiration

Question 50

A triage process used in treating multiple victims of a lightning strike, in which efforts are focused on those who are in respiratory and cardiac arrest. Reverse triage is different from conventional triage were such patients would be classified as deceased

Answer 50

reverse triage

Question 51

The system that delivers air to the mouth and lungs at various atmospheric pressure’s, increasing with the depth of the dive; stands for self contained underwater breathing apparatus

Answer 51

scuba gear

Question 52

The ability of the skin to resist deformation; tested by gently pinching skin on the forehead or back of the hand

Answer 52

turgor