Environmental Emergencies Flashcards
What is a heat-related illness?
Heat-related illnesses are progressive conditions caused by overexposure to heat. If recognized in the early stages, heat-related emergencies usually can be reversed. If not recognized early, they may progress to heat stroke, a life threatening condition.
What are the three types of heat-related illnesses, which form a continuum progressing from one to the next?
- Heat Cramps
- Heath Exhaustion
- Heat Stroke
What are heat cramps?
Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms that usually occur in the legs and abdomen. Heat cramps are the least severe of the heat-related emergencies.
What are the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion?
Heat exhaustion is an early indicator that the body’s cooling system is becoming overwhelmed.
Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
▪ Cool, moist, pale, ashen or flushed skin
▪ Headache, nausea and dizziness
▪ Weakness and exhaustion
▪ Heavy sweating
What are the signs and symptoms of heat stroke?
Heat stroke occurs when the body’s systems are overwhelmed by heat, causing them to stop functioning. Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition.
Signs and symptoms of heat stroke include:
▪ Changes in LOC
▪ Skin that is hot to the touch
▪ Skin that is wet or dry or appears red or pale
▪ Vision disturbances
▪ Seizures
▪ Vomiting
▪ Rapid and shallow breathing
▪ Rapid and weak pulse
▪ Lack of sweat
What steps do you take to care for someone suffering from a heat-related illness?
Take the following steps to care for someone suffering from a heat-related illness:
o Move the victim to a cool place.
o Loosen tight clothing.
o Remove perspiration-soaked clothing.
o Cool the victim by spraying them with cool water or applying cool, wet towels to the skin.
o Fan the victim.
o Encourage the victim to drink small amounts of a commercial sports drink, coconut water or milk, if the victim is conscious and able to swallow. Give water if none of these drinks are available.
What steps do you take to rapidly cool the victim as soon as possible?
Take steps to rapidly cool the victim as soon as possible by any means available.
▪ Preferably immerse the victim up to their neck in cold water, if safe to do so.
▪ Alternatively, place ice-water-soaked towels over the person’s entire body, rotating towels frequently.
▪ If bags of ice are available, place them on the victim’s body, over the towels.
If the victim refuses water or vomits, or has a mental status change, vision disturbance or a seizure - what 3 steps do you take?
- Call 911
- Rapidly cool the victim as soon as possible by any means available.
- If you are not able to measure and monitor the victim’s temperature, apply rapid cooling methods for 20 minutes, or until the victim’s condition improves or more advanced medical personnel arrive. Provide care as needed for other conditions that you find.
When does hypothermia occur?
Temperatures do not have to be extremely cold for someone to suffer a cold related emergency, especially if the victim is wet or it is windy.
Hypothermia occurs when a victim’s entire body cools because its ability to keep warm fails. A victim with severe hypothermia will die if care is not provided.
What are signs and symptoms of hypothermia?
A victim who has hypothermia may seem indifferent, disoriented or confused. You may notice that the victim has a “glassy” stare.
Initially, the victim may shiver, but as the hypothermia progresses, the shivering may stop. This is a sign that the victim’s condition is worsening and they need immediate medical care.
In advanced cases of hypothermia, the victim may become unresponsive, and their breathing may slow or stop. The body may feel stiff because the muscles have become rigid.
What steps do you take to care for hypothermia?
To care for hypothermia:
o Perform a primary assessment.
o Summon EMS personnel.
o Gently move the victim to a warm place.
o Sudden movements may cause cardiac arrest.
o Remove any wet clothing.
o Warm the victim by wrapping all exposed body surfaces in blankets or by putting dry clothing on the victim. Be sure to cover the head, since a significant amount of body heat is lost through the head. Do not warm the victim too quickly, such as by immersing them in warm water.
o Have the victim drink liquids that are warm, but not hot, and that do not contain alcohol or caffeine, if the victim is alert.
o Wrap water bottles or chemical hot packs, if you are using one, in a towel or blanket before applying.
o Monitor the victim’s condition, and watch for changes in LOC.
What is frostbite?
Frostbite is the freezing of body tissues, usually the nose, ears, fingers or toes.
In both superficial and deep frostbite, the situation is serious and could result in loss of the body part. Frostbite of the fingers and toes can cause enough damage to warrant amputation of hands, feet, arms, and legs.
o In early (or superficial) frostbite, only the first layers of skin are frozen.
o In late (or deep) frostbite, the skin and underlying tissues are frozen.
What are the signs and symptoms of frostbite?
Signs and symptoms of frostbite include:
o Lack of feeling in the affected area.
o Swelling.
o Skin that appears waxy, is cold to the touch or is discolored (flushed, white, yellow, blue or black).
o In more serious cases, blisters may form and the affected part may turn black and show signs of deep tissue damage.
To provide care for frostbite remember the priority is to get the person out of the cold.
Once out of the cold, what steps should you take to care of frostbite?
To provide care for frostbite remember the priority is to get the person out of the cold.
Once out of the cold, you should also do the following:
o Handle the area gently. Rough handling can damage the body part. Never rub the affected area, as this can cause skin damage.
o If there is a chance the body part may refreeze or if you are close to a medical facility, do not attempt to rewarm the frostbitten area.
o For minor frostbite, rapidly rewarm the affected part using skin-to-skin contact such as with a warm hand.
o For a more serious injury, rewarm the body part by gently soaking it in water not warmer than about 105°F. If you do not have a thermometer, test the water temperature yourself. If the temperature is uncomfortable to your touch, it is too warm. Keep the frostbitten part in the water until normal color returns and it feels warm (for 20 to 30 minutes).
o Loosely bandage the area with dry, sterile dressings.
o If the fingers or toes are frostbitten, place dry, sterile gauze between them to keep them separated. If the damage is to the feet, DO NOT allow the person to walk.
o Avoid breaking any blisters.
o Take precautions to prevent hypothermia.
o Monitor the person and care for shock.
o Do not give any ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) when caring for frostbite.
