Environmental Flashcards
Parkland Formula
For calculating fluid requirements for burns based on body surface area involved:
Intravenous fluid volume (mL) = body weight (kg) ✕ % of TBSA burn ✕ 3-4 mL lactated Ringer solution
May need to add to mIVF for children <2 years.
One half should be given in the first 8 hours, the second half should be given in the next 16 hours.
Rapid estimation of TBSA in adolescents and adults can be made using the rule of 9s (head = 9%, anterior and posterior torso = 18% each, perineum = 1%, each leg = 18%
4 conditions associated with Descent
The condition associated with Depth
Upon or after ascent
DC Current
The flow of electricity is unidirectional.
Examples: Batteries, cell phones, and lightning.
DC current leads to a large singular muscular contraction that can physically throw the patient from the source. This can result in asystole, and burns (especially deep burns).
AC Current
The flow of electricity cycles between both directions.
Examples of AC circuits include electrical transformers, general household and office equipment, and common electrical cords.
AC current leads to repeated muscular contraction and thus prolonged contact time, which can result in rhabdomyolysis with subsequent renal failure and ventricular fibrillation.
Common complication of oral commission burns
Bleeding can occur from the labial artery 1 to 2 weeks after an oral commissure burn when the eschar detaches
Botulinum Toxin
Mechanism: botulinum toxin blocks presynaptic cholinergic transmission in skeletal and smooth muscles
Acquisition: Infant botulism is most commonly seen with environmental exposure to aerosolized Clostridium botulinum spores from construction or agricultural sites.
Manifestation: Anticholinergic
Diagnosis: Definitive diagnosis is made through isolation of C botulinum spores in the stool
Treatment: Butulinum immune globulin
