Climatic Injuries Flashcards
What are the aspects of a hot dry climate?
Average temp: 50 degrees
Temp variation: Hot days & cold nights
Seasonal variation: evident
Humidity: 5-30%
Vegetation: none or sparse
What are aspects of a hot wet climate?
Average temp: 25-30 degrees
Temp variation: little
Seasonal variation: little
Humidity: 90-99%
Vegetation: thick dense jungle
What are examples of minor heat illness?
Fainting
Heat cramps
Sunburn
Prickly heat
What are examples of major heat illnesses?
Hyperthermia/Heat exhaustion
Heat stroke
What are the aspects of a cold wet climate?
Temperature: near freezing
Temp variation: freezing and thawing
Weather: wet, snow, sleet or rainfall
What are the aspects of a cold dry climate?
Temp: well below freezing
Temp variation: little or none
Weather: snow, dry and powdery, ground frozen and dry
What are examples of freezing cold injuries?
Hypothermia
Frostbite
What are examples of non-freezing cold injuries?
Trench foot
Frost nip
Windburn
What causes fainting?
Lowered blood pressure due to blood diverting from core to skin
Water loss from blood due to sweating
What causes heat cramps?
Excessive loss of salt through sweating
What causes sunburn?
Exposure to UV radiation
What causes prickly heat?
Sweat glands blocked by dead skin cells, bacteria and dirt causing inflammation.
What causes hyperthermia?
Rise in body temp above 39 degrees
What causes heatstroke?
Advanced hyperthermia, body temp above 41 degrees
Body unable to sweat due to dehydration
What causes hypothermia?
Body temp drops below 35 degrees
What causes frostbite?
Loss of blood supply to tissue due to vasoconstriction
What causes trench foot?
Cold wet conditions between 0-15 degrees
What causes frostnip?
Lack of blood flow and heat loss, early stage of frostbite
What causes windburn?
Cold wind removed too layer of oil from skin leading to excessive dryness and cracking
What causes snow blindness?
Unprotected exposure to bright UV rays reflected from ice and snow
What causes contact injuries?
Brief contact with very low temp objects leading to a burn. Skin moisture freezes instantly and can stick to object
What causes carbon monoxide poisoning?
Attempts to warm self in enclosed environments with vehicle fumes, kerosene stoves etc.
What are the symptoms of fainting?
Less oxygen reaching the brain
What are the symptoms of heat cramps?
Intense thirst
Muscle cramps
Rapid pulse
Nausea
What are the symptoms of sunburn?
Skin damage
Risk of cancer
What are the symptoms of prickly heat?
Inflammation
Red itchy spots or blisters
Prickling sensation
What are the symptoms of heat exhaustion?
Headache
Nausea
Fatigued
Dizziness
Light headedness
Flushed and sweaty
Feel hot
What are symptoms of heat stroke?
Dry skin
Headache
Rapid bounding pulse
CNS impairment
Hyperventilation
What are symptoms of hypothermia?
Feel intensely cold
Involuntary shivering
Mood changes
Locomotor impairment
Tiredness
What are the symptoms of frostbite?
Early signs: redness and blistering
Advanced signs: black discolouration
What are the symptoms of trench foot?
Cold, swollen and mottled skin
Long term muscle nerve and skin tissue damage in severe cases
What are symptoms of frost nip?
Pasty white skin
Loss of sensation
What are symptoms of windburn?
Redness with burning and itchy feeling
Can be mistaken for sunburn
What are the symptoms of snow blindness?
Eyes gritty
Bloodshot
Painful
Watery
Swell shut
What are symptoms of a cold burn?
Very similar to regular burn
