Chapter 33: Environmental Emergencies Flashcards
What four factors affect how a person deals with a cold or hot environments?
- Physical Condition
- Age (very young/old most at risk)
- Nutrition and hydration (alcohol consumption- risk factor)
- Environmental conditions
What five ways does heat loss occur?
Conduction: Direct contact
Convection: Circulating air
Evaporation: Liquid to gas removes heat
Radiation: Radiant energy- light
Respiration: Warm air out, (leading to cold air in)
What are the three ways to regulate body temp?
- Increase or decrease body heat production
- Move to area where heat loss is decreased or increased
- Wear appropriate clothing fro the environment
When is hypothermia diagnosed?
When core body temperature drops below 95*F, at this point the body cannot regulate its tempurature and generate body heat
Who is more susceptible to hypothermia?
Patients with injuries or illnesses ie burns, shock, head injury, stroke, generalized infection, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, hypoglycemia,
Patients taking alcohol or certain drugs
Children or older adults
What are the signs and symptoms of the three stages of hypothermia?
Mild: Core temp 93.2-98F, alert and shivering/jumping/stamping, pulse rate and respiration rapid, red or pale then cyanotic skin, cyanotic lips or fingertips
Moderate: Core temp 86-93.2F, shivering stops (90F) and muscular activity decreases eventually stopping- starts with fine muscle activity
Severe: Core temp less than 86F lethargy, stops fighting cold, LOC decreases, pt may try to remove clothes, poor coordination, memory loss, reduced or lost sensation, mood changes, impaired judgement, less communicative, joint/muscle stiffness, trouble speaking, stiff/rigid
Below 80*F vitals slow/decrease
Never assume cold/pulseless person is dead
What are potential underlying factors to determine severity of local cold injury?
Exposure to wet conditions, inadequate insulation from cold or wind, restricted circulation from tight clothing, shoes, or circulatory disease, fatigue, poor nutrition, alcohol or drug abuse, hypothermia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, age
What is hyperthermia?
High core temperature: above 101*F
What are the three forms of heat emergencies?
Heat cramps-painful muscle spasms (often after vigorous exercise), heat exhaustions- (most common, hypovolemia), and heat stroke (more heat than body can handle leads to death)
Who is at greatest risk of heat emergencies?
Children, geriatric pts, heart disease, COPD, diabetes, dehydration, obesity, limited mobility
What are the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion?
Dizziness & fainting, heavy sweating, cold. pale, and clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, fast, weak pulse, weakness or muscle cramps, excessive thirst
What do different skin types indicate?
1. Moist, pale, cool
2. Hot, dry
3. Hot, moist
- Excessive fluid and salt loss
- Body is unable to regulate core temp
- Body is unable to regulate core temp
Symptoms of heatstroke?
Headache, confusion or delirium, possible loss of consciousness, absence of sweating or dry skin except in exertional heat stroke, nausea or vomiting, rapid heart rate, body temp above 104*F
How much faster does body temperature drop in water than in air?
25-30 times faster
What are risk factors of urban hypothermia?
Predisposition, disability, illness, medication
