Chapter 32-environmental Emergencies Flashcards
What are four things that will affect how a person deals with a hot or cold environment?
Physical ability, age, and nutrition and hydration, environmental conditions
Ambient temperature
Temperature of the surrounding environment
Conduction
The transfer of heat from a part of the body to a cold or object or substance by direct contact, such as when a warm hand touches cold metal or ice
Convection
Occurs when heat is transferred to circulating air, such as when cool air moves across the body surface
Evaporation
The conversion of any liquid to a gas, a process that requires energy, or heat
Radiation
Transfer of heat by radiant energy. Radiant G is an invisible light the transfers heat
Respiration
Causes body heat loss as warm air in the lungs is exhaled into the atmosphere and cooler air is inhaled
What three ways can the rate and amount of heat loss or gain by the body be modified
Increase or decrease he production, move to an area where he lost is decreased or increased, where the appropriate clothing for the environment
Hypothermia
Means low temperature, when the temperature of the body falls below 95°F
Core temperature
The temperature of the heart, lungs, and vital organs
Hyperthermia
A high court temperature, usually 101°F or higher
What three ways can I heat emergency take place?
Heat Cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke
Heat cramps
Painful muscle spasms that occur after vigorous exercise
Heat exhaustion
The most common heat emergency. He exposure, stress, and fatigue or causes of heat exhaustion.
Heat stroke
The least common but most serious heat emergency. Occurs when the body is subjected to more heat than I can handle a normal mechanisms for getting rid of the excess heat or overwhelmed
