Chapter 24 - Environmental Emergencies Flashcards
active rewarming
technique of aggressively applying external sources of heat to a patient to rewarm his body.
conduction
transfer of heat through direct physical touch with nearby objects.
convection
loss of body heat to the atmosphere when air passes over the body.
evaporation
conversion of a liquid or solid into a gas; evaporation of sweat is a means by which the body is cooled.
generalized hypothermia
an overall reduction in body temperature, affecting the entire body; also called hypothermia or generalized cold emergency.
hyperthermia
abnormally high core body temperature; core body temperature above the normal 37C (98.6F)
hypothermia
abnormally low core body temperature; core body temperature under 35C (95F). See also generalized hypothermia.
local cold injury
damage to tissues in a specific part of the body resulting from exposure to cold.
myxedema coma
a life threatening late complication of hypothyroidism that may be precipitated by exposure to cold temperatures as well as to illness, infection, trauma, or certain drugs.
passive rewarming
the use of the patients own heat production and conservation mechanisms to rewarm him, for example, simply placing the patient in a warm environment and covering him with blankets.
radiation
transfer of heat from the surface of one object to the surface of another without physical contact between the objects.
respiration
the exchange of gases between an organism and its environment; the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that takes place during inhalation and exhalation.
thermoreceptor
a sensory receptor that is stimulated by temperature.
urban hypothermia
hypothermia precipitated by cold environments such as with persons who live on the streets in cold weather or whose indoor environment is too cold.
water chill
the increase in rate of cooling in the presence of water or wet clothing.
