Environmental Emergencies Flashcards
What are the different levels of cold-related emergencies?
- Cold injuries
- Hypothermia
- Frostbite
These emergencies can vary significantly in severity.
What are the key types of heat-related emergencies?
- Heat cramps
- Heat exhaustion
- Heat stroke
Each of these conditions has distinct symptoms and treatments.
What is homeostasis?
The normal state of balance of all the body’s systems.
What is the normal core body temperature (CBT)?
36.9 degrees Celsius.
What are the signs and symptoms of frostbite?
- Pale/numb skin
- Firm/hard/blue skin
- Blisters and pain
It is impossible to determine the depth of injury until rewarming.
What is hypothermia?
A generalized core body temperature of less than 35°C due to increased heat loss or decreased heat production.
What increases the chances of hypothermia?
Alcohol, CNS depressants, infection, endocrine diseases, brain dysfunction, and burns.
What are the stages of hypothermia according to the Swiss Staging System?
- HT – 1 (mild): Conscious and shivering
- HT – 2 (Moderate): Shivering stops, altered LOC
- HT – 3 (Severe): Unconscious with signs of life
- HT – 4 (Profound): No signs of life
- HT – 5 (Dead): Irreversible hypothermia.
What is the treatment for mild hypothermia (HT-1)?
- Remove wet clothing
- Provide a warm environment
- Sweet warm fluids
- Encourage active movement
- Blankets.
What is the treatment for severe hypothermia (HT-4)?
- Remove from cold environment
- CPR and Defibrillation (maximum 3 shocks until rewarmed)
- Maintain horizontal positioning
- Rewarm core areas.
Transport to an ECMO or CPB capable facility with OLMC prenotification.
What are the signs and symptoms of heat cramps?
- Muscle twitching
- Spasms
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness.
What distinguishes heat exhaustion from heat cramps?
Heat exhaustion is more severe with serious fluid loss and can lead to absolute hypovolemic shock.
What is heat stroke?
A complete failure of the body’s temperature regulation mechanisms and an extreme medical emergency.
What are the risk factors for heat stroke?
- Age (extremes of age)
- General health (serious underlying medical conditions)
- Fatigue
- Medications (e.g., anticholinergics).
What is drowning?
Death due to asphyxiation during immersion.
What is dry drowning?
Occurs when laryngeal spasm stops water from entering the lungs, leading to anoxia.
What is secondary drowning?
Respiratory distress that occurs from minutes to days after initial recovery from drowning.
What is decompression sickness commonly known as?
The bends.
What is nitrogen narcosis?
The development of apathy and euphoria due to increased levels of dissolved nitrogen in the bloodstream.
What is the treatment for air embolism?
- Oxygen
- Position trendelenberg or left lateral
- Transport to decompression chamber.
What are the signs and symptoms of decompression sickness?
- Torso rash
- Pruritus
- Pain in joints
- Dizziness
- Paralysis.
Any diver returning with symptoms may have decompression sickness.
Fill in the blank: The normal physiological response to cold is peripheral _______.
vasoconstriction.
What is the primary treatment for heat stroke?
- Remove from heat
- Remove all clothing
- Mist body
- Fan body to encourage evaporative cooling.
What complications can arise from rewarming hypothermic patients?
- Rewarming shock
- Core afterdrop.
What should be avoided when treating frostbite?
Do NOT rewarm in the field.
