Environmental Emergencies

Question 1

Define

Homeostasis

Answer 1

all body systems operate in
balance

Question 2

Name 5 ways the body loses heat

Answer 2

• Conduction
• Convection
• Evaporation
• Radiation
• Respiration

Question 3

What are the 4 stages of hypothermia?

Question 4

Treatment for cold exposure

Question 5

Factors Affecting Exposure

Answer 5

• Physical condition
• age
• nutrition and hydration
• enviromental conditions

Question 6

Define

Heat exposure

Answer 6

sweating & dialation of blood vessels

Question 7

Signs & Symptoms

Heat Exhaustion

Answer 7

• Heavy sweating
• weakness or syncope
• rapid weak pulse
• muscle cramps

Question 8

Signs & Symptoms

Heatstroke

Answer 8

• No sweating
• throbbing headache
• hot, red, dry skin
• rapid strong pulse
• may lose consciousness

Question 9

Define

Conduction

Answer 9

transfer of heat from a part of the body to a colder object or substance by direct contact

such as when a warm hand touches cold metal or ice

Question 10

Define

Convection

Answer 10

The loss of body heat caused by air movement

such as when cool air moves across the body surface

Question 11

Define

Evaporation

Answer 11

conversion of any liquid to a gas

Evaporation is the natural mechanism by which sweating cools the body

Question 12

Define

Radiation

Answer 12

Radiation causes
heat loss, such as when a person stands in a cold room. Heat
can also be gained by radiation—for example, when a person
stands by a fire.

Question 13

Define

Respiration

Answer 13

body heat loss as warm air in the lungs is exhaled into the atmosphere and cooler air is inhaled

Question 14

When the core temperature of the body falls below ____ the patient enters hypothermia

Answer 14

95 degrees

Question 15

Define

Air Embolism

Answer 15

The presence of air in the veins, which can lead to cardiac arrest if it enters the heart.

Question 16

Define

Antivenin

Answer 16

A serum that counteracts the effect of venom from an animal or insect

Question 17

Define

Breath-Holding Syncope

Answer 17

Loss of consciousness caused by a decreased breathing stimulus.

Question 18

Define

Decompression sickness

Answer 18

A painful condition seen in divers who ascend too quickly, in which gas, especially nitrogen, forms bubbles in blood vessels and other tissues

Question 19

Define

Diving reflex

Answer 19

The slowing of the heart rate caused by submersion in cold water.

Question 20

Define

Dysbarism injuries

Answer 20

Any signs and symptoms caused by the difference between the surrounding atmospheric pressure and the total gas pressure in various tissues, fluids, and cavities of the body.

Question 21

Define

Frostbite

Answer 21

Damage to tissues as the result of exposure to cold; frozen body parts; frozen or partially frozen body parts are frostbitten.

Question 22

Define

Heat cramps

Answer 22

Painful muscle spasms usually associated with vigorous activity in a hot environment.

Question 23

Define

Heat Exhaustion

Answer 23

A heat emergency in which a significant amount of fluid and electrolyte loss occurs because of heavy sweating; also called heat prostration or heat collapse

Question 24

Define

Heatstroke

Answer 24

A life-threatening condition of severe hyperthermia caused by exposure to excessive natural or artificial heat, marked by warm, dry skin; severely altered mental status; and often irreversible coma.

Question 25

# Define Hyperthermia

Answer 25

A condition in which the body core temperature rises to 101°F (38.3°C) or more.

Question 26

# Define Hypothermia

Answer 26

A condition in which the body core temperature falls below 95°F (35°C).

Question 27

# Define Radiation

Answer 27

The transfer of heat to colder objects in the environment by radiant energy; for example, heat gain from a fire.

Question 28

# Define Turgor

Answer 28

The ability of the skin to resist deformation; tested by gently pinching skin on the forehead or back of the hand

Question 29

Heat exhaustion can lead to what kind of shock?

Answer 29

hypovolemic shock caused by dehydration ## Footnote Symptoms include cold and clammy skin, weakness, confusion, headache, and rapid pulse. Body temperature can be high, and the patient may or may not still be sweating.

Question 30

# True or false Patients who have heatstroke due to exertion may have wet skin

Answer 30

True

Question 31

How do you rewarm frostbitten parts?

Answer 31

by immersing them in water at a temperature between 100°F and 112°F

Question 32

Moist, pale, cool skin indicates what in Heatstroke?

Answer 32

Excessive fluid and salt loss

Question 33

Hot, dry skin indicates what in heatstroke?

Answer 33

Body is unable to regulate core temperature

Question 34

Hot, moist skin indicates what in heatstroke?

Answer 34

Body is unable to regulate core temperature

Question 35

What is skin turgor?

Answer 35

Skin turgor is the ability of the skin to resist deformation

Question 36

How do we test skin turgor?

Answer 36

It is tested by gently pinching skin on the abdomen or back of the hand. Normally the skin will quickly flatten out. If the patient is dehydrated, the skin will remain tented (poor skin turgor)

Question 37

Patients with hyperthermia will often have what?

Answer 37

tachycardia and tachypnea

Question 38

How do we treat heat cramps?

Answer 38

1. Promptly remove the patient from the hot environment. Loosen any tight clothing. 2. Administer high-flow oxygen 3. Rest the cramping muscles. Have the patient sit or lie down until the cramps subside. 4. Replace fluids by mouth. Do not give salt tablets or solutions that have a high salt concentration. 5. Cool the patient with cool water spray or mist, and add convection to the cooling method by manually or mechanically fanning the patient.

Question 39

If the cramps do not go away after treatment, what do you do?

Answer 39

transport the patient to the hospital

Question 40

How do you treat heat exhaustion?

Answer 40

1. Promptly remove the patient from the hot environment, preferably into the back of the air-conditioned ambulance. Remove any excessive layers of clothing, particularly around the head and neck 2. Administer high-flow oxygen 3. If the patient has an altered mental status, check the blood glucose level. 4. Cool the patient with misting and administration of ice packs to the trunk of the patient’s body. 5. Encourage the patient to lie down. cool the patient by manually or mechanically fanning him or her 6. If the patient is fully alert, encourage him or her to sit up and slowly drink up to a liter of water, as long as nausea does not develop. In most cases, these measures will reverse the symptoms, causing the patient to feel better within 30 minutes.

Question 41

What is the processes of someone drowning?

Answer 41

Most people can only hold their breath for about a minute. After that, water is inhaled and then the person coughs. Without rescue, the person continues to aspirate, becomes hypoxic, loses consciousness, and within a few minutes stops breathing and then suffers a cardiac arrest.

Question 42

What is the first steps in car for someone drowning?

Answer 42

Removal from the water & 5 rescue breaths and use the AED ## Footnote Rolling patients onto their side or performing abdominal thrusts will not remove water from the lungs and should not be done unless the airway is obstructed

Question 43

Name some symptoms of acute mountain sickness

Answer 43

headache, lightheadedness, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, difficulty sleeping, shortness of breath during physical exertion, and a swollen face. ## Footnote Treatment primarily consists of stopping the ascent and descending to a lower altitude, and administering oxygen

Question 44

What is High-altitude pulmonary edema?

Answer 44

fluid collects in the lungs, hindering the passage of oxygen into the bloodstream

Question 45

# Signs & Symptoms High-altitude pulmonary edema

Answer 45

shortness of breath, cough with pink sputum, cyanosis, and a rapid pulse ## Footnote It can occur at altitudes of 8,000 feet or greater.

Question 46

# Signs & Symptoms High-altitude cerebral edema

Answer 46

severe, constant, throbbing headache; ataxia (lack of muscle coordination and balance); extreme fatigue; vomiting; and loss of consciousness

Question 47

# Define Frostnip

Answer 47

the skin freezes whereas the deeper tissues are unaffected ## Footnote often affects the ears, nose, and fingers

Question 48

# Define Frostbite

Answer 48

The deep tissues are frozen. This permanently damages cells ## Footnote When the ice thaws, further chemical changes occur in the cell, causing permanent damage or cell death