Environmental Emergencies Flashcards
Factors affecting exposure
- Physical condition
- Age
- Nutrition and hydration
- Environmental conditions
Children cannot shiver until age ___
12 to 18 months
Five methods of heat loss
- Conduction
- Convection
- Evaporation
- Radiation
- Respiration
The rate and amount of heat loss or gain by the body can be modified in three ways
- Increase or decrease heat production
- Move to an area where heat loss is increased or decreased
- Wear the appropriate clothing for the environment
To assess the patient’s core body temp ___
Pull back on the glove and feel the patients skin at the abdomen with the back of your hand
Mild hypothermia
greater than 93.2
less than 95
Moderate hypothermia
86 to 93.2
When does shivering stop?
less than 90
Severe hypothermia
less than 86
At core temps of 80 or less, ___
Patient may appear dead
Water bath temp for frost bite
104 to 105
Hyperthermia
Core temp of 101 or higher
Three forms of heat emergency
- Heat cramps
- Heat stroke
- heat exhaustion
People most at risk for heat emergency
- Geriatric
- Children
- COPD
- Diabetes
- Dehydration
- Obesity
First sign of heat stroke
Confusion or a change in behavior
Moist, pale, cool skin indicates
Excessive fluid and salt loss
Hot, dry skin indicates
Body is unable to regulate temp
Hot, most skin indicates
Body is unable to regulate temp
Body temp in a heat stroke
Above 104
Steps for water rescue
Reach
Throw
Row
Go
Bubbles of air in the blood vessels after diving
Air embolism
Bubbles of gas obstruct the blood vessels, usually nitrogen
Decompression sickness
Caused from holding breath on ascent
Air embolism
Caused from ascending too fast
Decompression sickness
With a drowning, start CPR with ___
5 rescue breaths
Lightning strike triage is called ___
Reverse triage
