Ch. 9 COLD INJURIES Flashcards
What is normal body temperature?
98.6F
37 C
The three main physiological means for producing heat
- Resting metabolism (increases slightly when exposed to cold for long periods of time. Is not enough to satisfy heat requirements in winter)
- Exercise (muscles produce 73% of heat generated in work)
- Shivering ( Our first defense against cold. a random quivering of muscles creates heat 5x greater than basal metabolic rate)
Name the 4 mechanisms of heat loss
primary heat loss is through the skin
- conduction, transfer of heat through direct contact with cold object
- convection, heat loss to moving air or water
- radiation, transfer of heat from hot object to cold without direct contact
- evaporation, through sweat/breathing
What is Hypothermia?
Core temp drops below 95 degrees F
Body is losing more heat than it can produce
- Shivering numb skin with gooses bumps
- Stiff and clumsy fingers (muscle impairment)
- poor decisions, slow and sluggish thinking (mental deterioration)
Mild hypothermia
Begin warming techniques
- Stumbling, Apathy(lack of interest), lethargy(lack of energy)
- complaining (Obvious mental changes)
- stumbling/fall, clumsy hands (Obvious muscular incarnation)
Moderate Hypothermia
rapid evacuation
- Shivering stops (Energy reserves are depleted)
- Irrational behavior, Incoherence, Disorientation (Obvious Mental Deterioration)
- Heart Rate and blood pressure Fall
- severe muscular rigidity
- Undetectable Pulse/Respiratory Rate
Severe Hypothermia
rapid evacuation
Warming techniques for Mild/Moderate hypothermia
Determine cause of hypothermia Replace wet cloths with warm dry ones Shield from wind Give patient Hot food and drink Encourage patient to move Place in sleeping bag Build a shelter/fire Hypothermia Wrap
What causes Hypothermia?
Heat loss is > than heat gain causes or sudden loss of heat
Describe a Hypothermia Wrap
- Lay out a tarp on the ground.
- Place 1 or 2 pads down on top of the tarp.
- Stack three sleeping bags on top of the pads.
- Place the victim inside the sleeping bag in the middle.
- Provide the victim with hot water bottles.
A. Hold in hands on Chest
B Place by feet to prevent Frost-Bite - Wrap the victim in the tarp.
What causes frostbite?
Cold Stress Low temps Moisture Poor insulation Contact with cold metal/Gasoline Tight clothing(restricting blood flow) Dehydration
What is frostbite
Freezing of tissue
This freezing draws water out of the cells, causing blood flow to stop further damaging cells.
what happens to cells during the thawing of frostbite
the frozen cells release clotting chemicals
What are the 3 stages of frostbite
Superficial (Frost Nip)
Skin appears grey and mottled
after warming skin turn red and peel off
Partial Thickness
Progresses to inner tissues may appear hard on surface and resilient below
during thawing blisters will occur
Deep or full Thickness
extends from skin to underlying tissues and muscle appears like partial thickness and frost nip but is complete hard
after thawing blood filled blisters, may or may not blister
cold, waxy, hard, or mottled skin
signs of Frostbite
how to thaw frost nip?
Frost nip can be warmed by sticking fingers in armpits feet on bellies
This process is painful ibuprofen, and Aspirin help with pain
Do not Rub
How to thaw Partial/Deep thickness frostbite
Treated with rapid warming in submerged in warm water between 99-102 degrees F, Skin to skin maybe more practical (armpits for hands and bellies for feet) do not allow for slow warming!
This process is painful ibuprofen, and Aspirin help with pain.
Do not Rub
Post Thaw care for frostbite/nip
Do not rub Air dry Do not pop blisters gause between fingers and toes Ibuprofen can help with pain and swelling Do not allow refreeze
describe these non freezing cold injuries?
Immersion foot (Trench foot)
Chill Blane
Pernio
Immersion foot (Trench foot)
Happens in the cold and wet conditions
Lack of blood and nutrients to the extremity
Chill Blane
Nodular bumps
inflammation from exposure to cold non freezing air
Pernio
Severe Chill Blains that may result in blisters
Skin is cold swollen mottled grey waxy and pale
tingling numbness and pain
slow capillary refill time
after warming skin maybe warm red swollen and painful
sever cases blisters and gang green
Signs and symptoms of non freezing cold injury
treatment of non freezing cold injury
slowly at room temp
elevate to reduce swelling
Ibuprofen to help with pain and swelling
Preventing Non freezing injuries
Military
well fitting boots with thick warm wool socks
keeping body warm/dry
keep feet out of water and mud
reacting quickly to numbness and tingling
Massaging feet twice per day
sleep with dry feet
NOLS instructors Dry your socks Sleep with warm dry feet Travel early keep time to tend feet Stay out of slushy snow conditions (midday) look at feet twice a day Model good foot care use proper equipment Do not over tighten equipment on feet
Evacuation Hypothermia
Mild can be created in field
Severe must gently and rapidly evacuated for hospital warming
Evacuation for Frostbite
Isolated less than a quarter can be left in the field if you can prevent refreezing
larger than quarter evacuate
Evacuation for Non freezing
Pain dictates
