Environmental Emergencies Flashcards
What is thermolysis?
heat loss
What is radiation?
loss of heat directly into a colder environment
What is convection?
transfer of heat through circulating air
What is conduction?
transfer of heat from body to colder object
What is evaporation?
cooling of body through sweating
What is respiration?
body heat loss during breathing
What is hypothermia?
heat loss exceeds heat gain
What is the body core temperature of someone who is hypothermic?
low
What is hyperthermia?
heat gained exceeds heat loss
What is the body core temperature of someone who is hyperthermic?
high
What is frost nip?
freezing of the skin (superficial dermis) but not deeper surface
What is a frost bite?
freezing of a body part
What is trench foot (immersion)?
results from prolonged exposure to cold water
What begins to develop over a frostbite injury after 5 days of onset?
necrotic skin
What are the 5 things that you must do for a person who has a local cold injury?
remove from cold environment | handle injured part gently | give warm/humidified O2 | remove any wet/restricting clothing
When can we rewarm a patient?
patient is conscious and responding appropriately
What temperature range is considered to be mild hypothermia?
96-93 F
What temperature range is considered to be moderate hypothermia? What will begin to develop in moderate hypothermic patients?
93-86 F | changes in LOC
What temperature range is considered to be severe hypothermia? What will begin to develop in severe hypothermic patients?
below 86F | systemic issues
What are significant signs and symptoms of someone who is hypothermic?
cold skin | bradycardic | bradypnea | weak pulse | hypotensive | MAY appear dead
What is a sign/symptom that occurs in moderate-severe hypothermic patients?
joint/muscle stiffness
What skin signs will you see on a hypothermic patient?
red, pale or bluish skin
How do we rewarm conscious hypothermic patients?
with ambulance heater on 86 F and occasionally hot packs
How can we rewarm unconscious patients?
passively via ambulance heater on 86F
For an unconscious hypothermic patients, what must we do before staring CPR if they do NOT have a palpable pulse? Why?
check pulse for 30-45 seconds as they are extremely bradycardic
What are the 3 types of heat emergencies?
heat cramps | heat stroke | heat exhaustion
What are heat cramps?
muscle spasms of legs and abdomen
What are heat cramps due to?
inadequate salt intake
Signs and symptoms of heat cramps?
muscle spasms/cramping
What are the 4 things you must do to treat heat cramps?
remove patient from hot environment | rest cramping muscle | replace fluids orally (electrolyte beverage) | transport if needed
What causes heat exhaustion?
exercising in hot environment or at rest in a hot environment and or exposed to hot, humid, poorly ventilated areas
5 Signs and Symptoms of heat exhaustion.
headache | nausea | weakness | dizziness | syncope
Skin signs of a person suffering from heat exhaustion.
warm, cool, moist or flushed skin
How do you treat someone who is suffering from heat exhaustion? (6 ways)
remove patient from hot environment | O2 prn | loosen tight clothing | position supine | fan/cool patient | transport
Signs and Symptoms of a Heat Stroke.
ALOC | seizures | hot, dry, flushed skin (can be moist)
What is happening to the body in a patient suffering from a heat stroke?
body lost ability to compensate
If a patient is suffering from a heat stroke triggered via exertion, what must you assume?
other factors as environment may not be the primary factor
How do you treat someone who is suffering from a heat stroke? (7 ways)
remove patient from heat environment | high-flow O2 | provide air conditioning at high setting and aggressively fan patient | remove patient’s clothing | apply cold packs | shock position prn | transport
Where do you apply cold or hot packs on a patient? (3 areas)
neck, armpits and groin
What is “drowning”?
death as a result of suffocation after submersion in water
What is “near-drowning”?
survival, or temporary survival, after suffocation in water