Chapter 33 - Environmental Emergencies Flashcards
A 30-year-old male was rescued after being lost in the woods for approximately 18 hours. The outside temperature is 30°F (–1°C). He is immediately placed in the warmed ambulance, where you perform a primary assessment. He is unresponsive, pale, and apneic. You should:
Select one:
A. apply an AED and assess his cardiac rhythm.
B. assess for a carotid pulse for up to 60 seconds.
C. apply chemical heat packs to his groin and axillae.
D. open his airway and give two rescue breaths.
B. assess for a carotid pulse for up to 60 seconds.
A 31-year-old male was bitten on the leg by an unidentified snake. The patient is conscious and alert and in no apparent distress. Your assessment of his leg reveals two small puncture marks with minimal pain and swelling. In addition to administering oxygen and providing reassurance, further care for this patient should include:
Select one:
A. elevating the lower extremities and giving antivenom.
B. supine positioning, splinting the leg, and transporting.
C. applying ice to the wound and transporting quickly.
D. transporting only with close, continuous monitoring.
B. supine positioning, splinting the leg, and transporting.
All of the following terms refer to a body part that is cold but not frozen, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. immersion foot.
B. trench foot.
C. frostnip.
D. frostbite.
D. frostbite.
Burns associated with lightning strikes are typically:
Select one:
A. third-degree.
B. superficial.
C. full-thickness.
D. partial-thickness.
B. superficial.
Common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include all of the following, EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. nausea.
B. tachycardia.
C. hot, dry skin.
D. headache.
C. hot, dry skin.
Drowning is MOST accurately defined as:
Select one:
A. temporary survival after submersion in water.
B. water in the lungs following submersion in water.
C. death beyond 24 hours after submersion in water.
D. death from suffocation after submersion in water.
D. death from suffocation after submersion in water.
Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature falls below:
Select one:
A. 90°F (32°C).
B. 95°F (35°C).
C. 88°F (31°C).
D. 98°F (37°C).
B. 95°F (35°C).
In contrast to Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever:
Select one:
A. causes painful joint swelling after a few days or weeks.
B. can cause paralysis and cardiorespiratory collapse.
C. may be confused with rheumatoid arthritis.
D. presents with flu-like symptoms and a bull’s-eye rash.
B. can cause paralysis and cardiorespiratory collapse.
Most of the serious injuries associated with scuba diving are caused by:
Select one:
A. cold water temperature.
B. alcohol consumption.
C. too rapid of a descent.
D. too rapid of an ascent.
D. too rapid of an ascent.
The body’s natural cooling mechanism, in which sweat is converted to a gas, is called:
Select one:
A. convection.
B. conduction.
C. evaporation.
D. radiation.
C. evaporation.
The EMT must assume that any unwitnessed water-related incident is accompanied by:
Select one:
A. cold-water immersion.
B. an air embolism.
C. possible spinal injury.
D. alcohol intoxication.
C. possible spinal injury.
The MOST prominent symptom of decompression sickness is:
Select one:
A. dizziness and nausea.
B. abdominal or joint pain.
C. difficulty with vision.
D. tightness in the chest.
B. abdominal or joint pain.
The venom of a black widow spider is toxic to the:
Select one:
A. nervous system.
B. cardiovascular system.
C. respiratory system.
D. renal system.
A. nervous system.
When a warm hand is immersed in water that is 70°F (21°C), heat is transferred from the hand to the water through a process called:
Select one:
A. conduction.
B. evaporation.
C. convection.
D. radiation.
A. conduction.
Which of the following is an early sign of pit viper envenomation?
Select one:
A. Syncope and bleeding at distal sites
B. Signs and symptoms of hypoperfusion
C. Local swelling and ecchymosis
D. General weakness and diaphoresis
C. Local swelling and ecchymosis
Which of the following MOST accurately describes hyperthermia?
Select one:
A. Heat evaporates a significant amount of body water.
B. The body eliminates more heat than it can generate.
C. The body is exposed to more heat than it can lose.
D. The core body temperature exceeds 99.5°F (37°C).
C. The body is exposed to more heat than it can lose.
You and your partner respond to a park where several people were reportedly struck by lightning. When you arrive, you find three patients. The first patient is lying supine on the ground; he is unresponsive and does not appear to be breathing. The second patient is ambulatory, appears confused, and is holding his arm against his chest. The third patient is sitting on the ground holding the sides of his head. After calling for backup, you should:
Select one:
A. recognize that the patients who are conscious are at high risk for developing cardiac arrest and quickly assess them for potentially life-threatening injuries.
B. immediately begin CPR on the unresponsive patient, but cease resuscitation efforts if there is no response after 5 minutes of treatment.
C. focus your initial treatment efforts on the patients who are conscious because the unresponsive patient is likely in irreversible cardiac arrest.
D. assess the unresponsive patient’s pulse, begin CPR starting with chest compressions if he is pulseless, and attach the AED as soon as possible.
D. assess the unresponsive patient’s pulse, begin CPR starting with chest compressions if he is pulseless, and attach the AED as soon as possible.
You are transporting a 28-year-old man with a frostbitten foot. The patient’s vital signs are stable and he denies any other injuries or symptoms. The weather is treacherous and your transport time to the hospital is approximately 45 minutes. During transport, you should:
Select one:
A. cover his foot with chemical heat compresses.
B. protect the affected part from further injury.
C. rewarm his foot in 102°F to 104°F (38.9°C to 40°C) water.
D. administer oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask.
B. protect the affected part from further injury.
You receive a call to a residence for a sick patient. Upon your arrival, you find the patient, a 53-year-old diabetic male, lying down on his front porch. His wife tells you that he had been mowing the lawn in the heat for the past 3 hours. The patient is confused and has hot, moist skin. His pulse is weak and thready, and his blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg. You should:
Select one:
A. administer one tube of oral glucose and reassess his mental status.
B. load him into the ambulance and begin rapid cooling interventions.
C. perform a head-to-toe assessment and look for signs of trauma.
D. place him in a sitting position and have him drink 1 L of water.
B. load him into the ambulance and begin rapid cooling interventions.
You respond to a local lake where a diver complains of difficulty breathing that occurred immediately after rapidly ascending from a depth of approximately 30 feet. On assessment, you note that he has cyanosis around his lips and has pink froth coming from his nose and mouth. You should:
Select one:
A. place him in a semi-sitting position, suction his mouth and nose, apply a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, and transport to the closest emergency department.
B. suction his mouth and nose, keep him supine and elevate his legs to prevent air bubbles from entering his brain, administer high-flow oxygen, and transport to a hyperbaric chamber.
C. suction his mouth and nose, apply high-flow oxygen, monitor the patient’s breath sounds for a pneumothorax, and contact medical control regarding transport to a recompression facility.
D. position him supine with his head elevated 30°, suction his mouth and nose, hyperventilate him with a bag-valve mask, and contact medical control for further guidance.
C. suction his mouth and nose, apply high-flow oxygen, monitor the patient’s breath sounds for a pneumothorax, and contact medical control regarding transport to a recompression facility.
___________ causes body heat to be lost as warm air in the lungs is exhaled into the atmosphere and cooler air is inhaled.
Select One
A. Convection
B. Conduction
C. Radiation
D. Respiration
D. Respiration
Evaporation, the conversion of a liquid to a gas, is a process that requires:
Select One
A. Energy
B. Circulation
C. A warmer ambient temperature
D. High humidity
A. Energy
The rate and amount of heat loss by the body can be modified by all of the following except:
Select One
A. increasing heat production
B. moving to an area where heat loss is decreased
C. wearing insulated clothing
D. increasing fluid intake
D. increasing fluid intake
The characteristic appearance of blue lips and/or fingertips seen in hypothermia is the result of:
Select One
A. lack of oxygen in arterial blood
B. frostbite
C. blood vessels constricting
D. lack of oxygen in venous blood
C. blood vessels constricting
Signs and symptoms of severe systemic hypothermia include all of the following except:
Select One
A. weak pulse
B. coma
C. shivering
D. very slow respirations
C. shivering
Hypothermia is more common among all of the following except:
Select One
A. older individuals
B. long-distance athletes
C. infants and children
D. those who are already ill
B. long-distance athletes
To assess a patient’s general temperature, pull back your glove and place the back of your hand on the patient’s:
Select One
A. abdomen, underneath clothing
B. forehead
C. forearm, on the inside of the wrist
D. neck, at the area where you check the carotid pulse
A. abdomen, underneath clothing
Never assume that a(n) __________, pulseless patient is dead.
Select One
A. apneic
B. cyanotic
C. cold
D. hypothermic
D. hypothermic
Management of hypothermia in the field consists of all of the following except:
Select One
A. applying heat packs to the groin, axillary, and cervical regions
B. removing wet clothing
C. preventing further heat loss
D. massaging the cold extremities
D. massaging the cold extremities
All of the following conditions refer to when exposed parts of the body become very cold, but not frozen, except:
Select One
A. frostnip
B. trench foot
C. immersion foot
D. frostbite
D. frostbite
When the body is exposed to more heat energy than it loses, __________ result(s).
Select One
A. hyperthermia
B. heat cramps
C. heat exhaustion
D. heatstroke
A. hyperthermia
Contributing factors to the development of heat illnesses include all of the following except:
Select One
A. high air temperature
B. vigorous exercise
C. high humidity
D. increased fluid intake
D. increased fluid intake
It is important to remain hydrated while on duty. Drink at least ________ of water per day, and more when exertion or heat is involved.
Select One
A. 8 glasses
B. 1 liter
C. 2 liters
D. 3 liters
D. 3 liters
Which of the following statements about heat cramps is false?
Select One
A. they only occur when it is hot outdoors
B. they may be seen in well-conditioned athletes
C. the exact cause of heat cramps is not well understood
D. dehydration may play a role in the development of heat cramps
A. they only occur when it is hot outdoors
Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and associated hypovolemia include all of the following except:
Select One
A. cold, clammy skin with ashen pallor
B. dizziness, weakness, or faintness
C. normal vital signs
D. normal thirst
D. normal thirst
Most spinal injuries in diving incidents affect the:
Select One
A. cervical spine
B. thoracic spine
C. lumbar spine
D. sacrum/coccyx
A. cervical spine
Often, the first sign of heatstroke is:
Select One
A. a change in behavior
B. an increase in pulse rate
C. an increase in respirations
D. hot, dry, flushed skin
A. a change in behavior
The least common but most serious illness caused by heat exposure, occurring when the body is subjected to more heat than it can handle and normal mechanisms for getting rid of the excess heat are overwhelmed, is:
Select One
A. hyperthermia
B. heat cramps
C. heat exhaustion
D. heat stroke
D. heat stroke
_________ is the body’s reaction to an irritation of water entering the lower respiratory tract.
Select One
A. bronchoconstriction
B. laryngospasm
C. esophageal spasms
D. swelling in the oropharynx
B. laryngospasm
Treatment of drowning and/or near drowning begins with:
Select One
A. opening the airway
B. ventilation with 100% oxygen via bag-mask device
C. suctioning the lungs to remove the water
D. rescue and removal from the water
D. rescue and removal from the water
In a diving emergency, ___________ occurs when bubbles of gas, especially nitrogen, obstruct the blood vessels.
Select One
A. compression sickness
B. decompression sickness
C. pulmonary sickness
D. nitrogen toxicity
B. decompression sickness
If the near drowning victim has evidence of upper airway obstruction by foreign matter, which of the following would not be considered a method for clearing it?
Select One
A. remove the obstruction manually
B. apply suction
C. place the patient in the recovery position to allow drainage
D. use abdominal thrusts
C. place the patient in the recovery position to allow drainage
You should never give up on resuscitating a cold-water drowning victim because:
Select One
A. when the patient is submerged in water colder than body temperature, heat is maintained in the body
B. the resulting hypothermia can protect vital organs from the lack of oxygen
C. the resulting hypothermia raises the metabolic rate
D. all of the above
B. the resulting hypothermia can protect vital organs from the lack of oxygen
The three phases of a dive, in the order they occur, are:
Select One
A. ascent descent, and bottom
B. descent, bottom, and ascent
C. orientation, bottom and ascent
D. descent, orientation, and ascent
B. descent, bottom, and ascent
Areas usually affected by descent problems include:
Select One
A. the lungs
B. the skin
C. the joints
D. vision
A. the lungs
Potential problems associated with rupture of the lungs include all of the following except:
Select One
A. air emboli
B. pneumomediastinum
C. pneumothorax
D. hemopneumothorax
D. hemopneumothorax
The organs most severely affected by air embolism are the:
Select One
A. brain and spinal cord
B. brain and heart
C. heart and lungs
D. brain and lungs
A. brain and spinal cord
Black widow spiders may be found in:
Select One
A. New Hampshire
B. Woodpiles
C. California
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
Coral snake venom is a powerful toxin that causes __________ of the nervous system.
Select One
A. paralysis
B. hyperactivity
C. hypoactivity
D. hemiparesis
A. paralysis
Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease are both spread through the tick’s:
Select One
A. saliva
B. blood
C. hormones
D. excrement
A. saliva
Signs of envenomation by a pit viper include all of the following except:
Select One
A. swelling
B. chest pain
C. ecchymosis
D. severe burning pain at the site of the injury
B. chest pain
Removal of a tick should be accomplished by:
Select One
A. suffocating it with gasoline
B. burning it with a lighted match to cause it to release its grip
C. using fine tweezers to pull it straight out of the skin
D. suffocating it with Vasoline
C. using fine tweezers to pull it straight out of the skin
Which of the following statements regarding the brown recluse spider is false?
Select One
A. it is larger than the black widow spider
B. it lives mostly in the southern and central parts of the country
C. venom is not neurotoxic
D. bites rarely cause systemic signs and symptoms
A. it is larger than the black widow spider
Treatment of a snake bite from a pit viper includes:
Select One
A. Calming the patient
B. Providing BLS as needed if the patient shows no sign of envenomation
C. Marking the skin with a pen over the swollen are to note whether swelling is spreading
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
At 1400 in July, the weather is 105 degrees F and very humid. You have been called for a “man down” at the park. As you arrive, you recognize him as an alcoholic who has been a “frequent flyer” with your service. It looks like he had been sitting under a tree when he fell over, unconscious. As you assess the patient, he has cold, clammy skin and a dry tongue.
You suspect that:
A. he is well-hydrated
B. he has suffered heat exhaustion
C. he is hypothermic
D. he has heatstroke
B. he has suffered heat exhaustion
Small infants have a poor ability to thermoregulate and are unable to shiver to control heat loss until about the age of:
Select One
A. 4-6 months
B. 6-12 months
C. 12-18 months
D. 18-24 months
C. 12-18 months
Most heat stroke cases occur when the temperature is around _________ and the humidity is 80%.
Select One
A. 80 degrees F
B. 90 degrees F
C. 100 degrees F
D. 110 degrees F
A. 80 degrees F
True or False
Normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees F.
True
True or False
To assess the skin temperature in a patient experiencing a generalized cold emergency, you should feel the patient’s skin.
True
True or False
Mild hypothermia occurs when the core temperature drops to 85 degrees F.
False
Mild hypothermia occurs when the core temperature drops between
90°F and 95°F (32°C and 35°C)
True or False
The body’s most efficient heat-regulating mechanisms are sweating and dilation of skin blood vessels.
True
True or False
People who are at greatest risk for heat illnesses are the elderly and children.
True
True or False
The strongest stimulus for breathing is an elevation of oxygen in the blood.
False
The strongest stimulus for breathing is an elevation of Carbon Dioxide in the blood.
(Hypercapnic Drive)
True or False
Immediate bradycardia after jumping in cold water is called the diving reflex.
True
True or False
Cottonmouths are known for aggressive behavior.
True
(pg 1169)
True or False
Ice should be promptly applied to any insect sting or snake bite with swelling.
False
Insect sting - Yes Ice
Snakebite with swelling NO Ice or Tourniquets.
Ice does little to treat the bite as the venom is in the bloodstream and potentially leads to increased damage.
Cryotherapy was packing or immersion of the bitten extremity in ice or ice water. It was thought to provide benefit by lowering venom enzyme activity, slowing venom absorption, and thus slowing and attenuating the envenomation syndrome. This intervention has fallen from favor over the past 30 to 40 years as experimental models of envenomation have failed to demonstrate significant benefit. In some case series describing snakebite patients, the only cases of tissue loss, amputations, or permanent disability occurred when patients received cryotherapy. These cases typically involved prolonged packing of the bitten extremity in ice for hours to days. An ice pack placed intermittently on the bite for pain control in a fashion similar to an ankle sprain is unlikely to cause harm; however, more aggressive ice therapy is contraindicated.
“Out-of-hospital and interhospital management of crotaline snakebite”
McKinney, Patrick E; DOI 10.1067/mem.2001.111574
True or False
The most common type of pit viper is the copperhead.
False
Rattlesnake is the most common (pg 1169)
True or False
Cottonmouths are known for aggressive behavior.
True
True or False
Ticks should be removed by firmly grasping them with tweezers while rotating them counterclockwise.
False
“Using fine tweezers, grasp the tick by the head and pulled gently but firmly straight up so that the skin is tented. Hold this position until the tick releases.” (Pg 1172)
True or False
The pain of coelenterate stings may respond to flushing with cold water.
False
Persistent pain may respond to immersion in hot water (110°F to 115°F [43.3°C to 46.1°C])
(pg 1173)
True or False
If you are unsure as to whether a hypothermic patient has a pulse present, palpate the carotid artery for 15 to 20 seconds.
False
Palpate the carotid for 60 seconds. (pg 1147)
True or False
The goal with the patient with moderate-to-severe hypothermia is to prevent further heat loss.
True
True or False
After a lightning strike you should practice reverse triage.
True
When a person is struck by lightning, respiratory or cardiac arrest, if it occurs, usually occurs immediately. focus your efforts on those who are in respiratory or cardiac arrest. This process, called reverse triage, differs from conventional triage, where such patients would ordinarily be classified as deceased. (pg 1166)
True or False
Extremes in temperature and humidity are needed to produce hot or cold injuries.
False
Extremes in temperature and humidity are not needed to produce hot or cold injuries. Many hypothermic cases occur at temperatures between 30°F and 50°F. Most future cases occur when the temperature is 80°F and the humidity is at 80%. (Page 1142)
True or False
When approaching a water rescue scene, it is better to drive through moving water than through stagnant water.
False
Never drive your car through moving water-a small amount can cause the vehicle to be swept away. Use extreme caution when driving through standing water. (page 1162)
True or False
Potential safety hazards in the environment can include wet grass, mud, or icy streets.
True
True or False
Long-sleeved shirts and long pants are considered dangerous for EMS responders in extreme heat and are not necessary because they provide only minimal protection from exposure.
False
Long-sleeve shirts and long pants may be uncomfortable in warm weather; however, they can help you from being splashed by blood or other bodily fluids. (Page 1152)
Do not attempt to actively rewarm patients who have _________ to _________ hypothermia, because they are prone to developing arrhythmias unless handled very carefully.
Moderate; Severe
As the body reforms, the sudden redistribution of fluids and the release of built of chemicals can have harmful effects, including cardiac dysrhythmias. (Page 1148)
Always handle the patient gently so you do not cause any pain or further injury to the skin. Rough handling of a patient with moderate to severe hypothermia may cause the heart to go into ventricular fibrillation, which may not respond to defibrillation. (Page 1149)
Most significant diving injuries occur during __________.
Ascent
When treating a patient with frostbite, never attempt ____________ if there is any chance that the part may freeze again before the patient reaches the hospital.
Rewarming
A patient at an altitude above 10,000’ with shortness of breath and cough with pink sputum is likely to be suffering from _____-______ _________ _________.
High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)
___________, a common effect of hypothermia, is the body’s attempt to maintain heat. (Micro spasms)
Shivering
Whenever a person dives or jumps into very cold water, the _________ _________ may cause immediate bradycardia.
Diving reflex
_________ is the transfer of heat by radiant energy.
Radiation
Mild hypothermia occurs when the core temperature is between ___________ and __________.
90°F; 95°F
Table 32-1 (page 1144)
The ____________ and ___________ systems are the most commonly injured during a lightning strike.
Cardiovascular; Nervous
_________ is the third most common cause of death from isolated environmental phenomena.
Lightning
_________ is a serum containing antibodies that counteracts venom.
Antivenom
__________ (bees, wasps, ants, and yellow jackets) stings are painful but are not medical emergencies unless the patient is allergic to the venom.
Hymenoptera
Most snake bites occur between _________ and ___________, when the animals are active.
April; October
In the United States, the most common form of pit viper is the __________.
Rattlesnake
_________ are eight-legged arachnids with a venom gland and stinger at the end of their tail.
Scorpions
Tick bites occur most commonly during the _______ months.
Summer
One-third of patients with Lyme disease will have a ________ rash.
Bull’s-eye
To treat a sting from a jellyfish, immersion in ________ of the affected area may help alleviate symptoms.
Vinegar
(Page 1173)
Coelenterates are responsible for more ________ than any other marine animal.
Envenomations
Toxins from the spines of urchins and stingrays are _________ __________.
Heat sensitive
(Page 1173)
Most frostbitten parts are:
Select One
A. soft and moist
B. hard and waxy
C. soft and waxy
D. hard and moist
B. hard and waxy
If a patient has a cold skin temperature, he or she likely is:
Select One
A. hypothermic
B. hyperthermic
C. hypovolemic
D. hypoglycemic
A. hypothermic
If a patient has a hot skin temperature, he or she likely is:
Select One
A. hypothermic
B. hyperthermic
C. hypoglycemic
D. hypervolemic
B. hyperthermic
When treating multiple victims of lightning strikes, who should you concentrate your efforts on first?
Select One
A. conscious patients
B. unconscious patients in respiratory or cardiac arrest
C. all unconscious patients
D. none of the above
B. unconscious patients in respiratory or cardiac arrest
See reverse triage (page 1166)
What is the best method of inactivating a jellyfish sting?
Select One
A. urinating on it
B. flushing the site with cold water
C. applying vinegar
D. applying an ice pack
C. applying vinegar
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 Bull’s-eye rash 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 two days ago. On the basis of this patient’s presentation, you should suspect:
Lyme disease
S/S (page 1172)
- Flulike Symptoms
- Bull’s-eye rash may spread to several parts of the body
- Painful swelling of joints
The diving reflex may allow a person to survive extended periods of submersion in cold water secondary to:
Bradycardia and slowing of the metabolic rate
(Page 116; see “diving reflex”)
A dysbarism injury refers to the signs and symptoms related to changes in
Barometric pressure
To assess a patient’s general temperature, pull back on your glove and place the back of your hand on his or her skin at the:
Abdomen
The body’s natural cooling mechanism, in which sweat is converted to a gas, is called:
Evaporation
Geriatric patients are at a higher risk for Illnesses due to extreme environmental temperatures because:
Poor circulation contributes to increased heat loss.
Loss of subcutaneous tissue as they age reduces the amount of insulation they have.
(Page 1142)
The transfer of heat to circulating air, such as when cool air moves across the body’s surface, is called:
Select One
A. radiation.
B. conduction.
C. convection.
D. evaporation.
C. convection.
The body’s natural protective mechanisms against heat loss are:
Select One
A. shivering and vasodilation.
B. vasodilation and respiration.
C. respiration and vasoconstriction.
D. vasoconstriction and shivering.
D. vasoconstriction and shivering.
Patients with generalized hypothermia are at an increased risk of a local cold injury because:
Select One
A. blood is shunted away from the extremities to the body’s core.
B. peripheral vasodilation brings warm blood to the skin’s surface.
C. the major muscles of the body become rigid during hypothermia.
D. the patient is usually unable to escape the cold ambient temperature.
A. blood is shunted away from the extremities to the body’s core.
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:
A. envenomation from a pit viper.
B. a black widow spider bite.
C. a brown recluse spider bite.
D. Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
B. a black widow spider bite.
Compared to adults, infants and children are at higher risk for hypothermia for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT:
Select One
A. a smaller amount of body fat.
B. a decreased ability to shiver.
C. a relatively small surface area.
D. a smaller overall muscle mass.
C. a relatively small surface area.
Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to increase a person’s risk of hypothermia?
Select One
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Spinal cord injury
C. Severe infection
D. Head injury
A. Hyperglycemia
Covering a patient’s __________ will significantly minimize radiation heat loss.
Select One
A. head
B. chest
C. extremities
D. abdomen
A. head
An air embolism associated with diving occurs when:
Select One
A. the alveoli completely collapse due to high pressure.
B. high water pressure forces air into the mediastinum.
C. the diver hyperventilates prior to entering the water.
D. the diver holds his or her breath during a rapid ascent.
D. the diver holds his or her breath during a rapid ascent.
Which of the following would be the LEAST likely to occur in a patient with a core body temperature of between 89°F (32°C) and 92°F (33°C)?
Select One
A. Confusion
B. Stiff muscles
C. Tachycardia
D. Bradypnea
C. Tachycardia
Which of the following medications increases a person’s risk of a heat-related emergency?
Select One
A. Tylenol
B. Asprin
C. Motrin
D. Diuretic
D. Diuretics
To obtain the MOST accurate reading of a patient’s core body temperature, you should place a special hypothermia thermometer:
Select One
A. into a patient’s rectum
B. under the patient’s armpit
C. behind the patient’s knee
D. under the patient’s tongue
A. into a patient’s rectum
