Environmental Emergencies

Question 1

Conduction

Answer 1

transfer of heat from one material to another through direct contact

Question 2

water chill

Answer 2

chilling caused by conduction of heat from the body when the body or clothing is wet
water conducts heat away from the body 25 times faster than still air

Question 3

Convection

Answer 3

carrying away of heat by currents of air, water, or other gases or liquids

Question 4

Wind Chill

Answer 4

chilling caused by convection of heat from the body in the presence of air currents

Question 5

Radiation

Answer 5

body’s atoms and molecules send out rays of heat as they move and change
most occurs in head and neck

Question 6

evaporation

Answer 6

change from liquid to gas. when the body perspires or gets wet evaporation of the perspiration or other liquid into the air has a cooling effect on the body

Question 7

Respiration

Answer 7

breathing. during respiration, body heat is lost as warm air is exhaled from the body

Question 8

Hypothermia

Answer 8

generalized cooling that reduces body temperature below normal, which is a life-threatening conditions in its extreme

Question 9

Passive rewarming

Answer 9

converting a hypothermic patient and taking other steps to prevent further heat loss and help the body rewarm itself

Question 10

Active rewarming

Answer 10

application of an external heat source to rewarm the body of a hypothermic patient

Question 11

Central Rewarming

Answer 11

application of heat to the lateral chest, neck, armpits, and groin of a hypothermic patient

Question 12

Local cooling

Answer 12

cooling or freezing of particular (local) parts of the body

Question 13

Hyperthermia

Answer 13

an increase in body temperature above normal, which is a life-threatening condition in its extreme

Question 14

drowning

Answer 14

process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid. which may result in death, morbidity (illness or other adverse effects), or no morbidity

Question 15

air embolism

Answer 15

gas bubble in the bloodstream. the plural is air emboli. the more accurate term is arterial gas embolism (AGE)
Signs and Symptoms: blurred vision, chest pain, numbness and tingling sensation in the extremities, generalized or specific weakness, possible paralysis, frothy blood in the mouth or nose, convulsions, rapid lapse into unconsciousness, respiratory arrest and cardiac arrest

Question 16

decompression sickness

Answer 16

condition resulting from nitrogen trapped in the body’s tissues, caused by coming up too quickly from a deep, prolonged dive. symptom of decompression sickness is “the bends” or deep pain in the muscles and joints
Signs and Symptoms: Personality changes, fatigue, deep pain to the muscles and joints (“bends”), itchy blotches or mottling of the skin, numbness or paralysis, choking, coughing, labored breathing, behavior similar to intoxication, chest pains, collapse leading to unconsiousness

Question 17

Emergency care for AGE or Decompression sickness

Answer 17

Maintain an open airway
administer high concentration O2
Rapid transport
take to Hyperbaric Trauma care center
Keep Patient warm
position either supine or either side

Question 18

Diver Alert Network (DAN)

Answer 18

assist rescuers with the care of underwater diving accident patients
(919) 684-8111
for nonemergencies (919) 684-2948

Question 19

Water Rescue Precedure

Answer 19

Reach, Throw, Row, Go

Question 20

Toxins

Answer 20

Substances produced by animals or plants that are poisonous to humans

Question 21

Venom

Answer 21

toxin (poison) produced by certain animals such as snakes, spiders, and some marine life forms.