Environmental Emergencies- HEAT Flashcards
Death occurs below and above what temps?
106 F
If the body is at 98 and room is at 70 what temp is the skin?
86
Tepid water temp
86
What is the hematocrit during exercise
45% (pudding)
Tonicity
How tonic a substance is
5 drugs that increase heat production
Amphetamines Tricyclics antidepressants LSD thyroid hormone MDMA
1 drug that decreases thirst
Haldol
Hypothalamus max temp
104 degrees
4 Drugs that decrease sweating (add to heat load)
Antihistamines
Phenothiazines (Thorazine, haldol)
Atropine
Cogentin(taken with phenothiazines)
Heat illness does not progress from one illness to the next
What is the exception?
Heat syncope can progress to heat exhaustion
How much water is lost in sweating?
1 1/2 unacclimatized
2 1/2 acclimatized
What is heat syncope?
Feeling weak and faint in a hot environment
Fainting due to central hypovolemia
(Blood shifting to surface)
S/S of heat syncope
Similar to exhaustion but temp water and salt balance are all normal
Earlier onset
Fatigue, malaise, drowsy Headache, confusion Weakness, dizzy, syncope Rapid, thready pulse, hypotension Pale, cool, soaked skin Thirst Muscle cramps, abd cramps N/V/D
Heat Syncope TX
Remove from heat Oral fluids (1-2L) over 2-4hrs Remove clothing Shock position Prevent shivering
What is heat exhaustion= exercise hypovolemia
Dehydration(often severe) with loss of large amounts of water and salt due to prolonged exposure to high heat
Usually with exercise
S/S of heat exhaustion
Fatigue, malaise, drowsy Headache, confusion Weakness, dizzy, syncope Rapid, thready pulse, hypotension Pale, cool, soaked skin Thirst Muscle cramps, abd cramps N/V/D
Heat exhaustion TX
Remove from heat Oral fluids (1-2L) over 2-4hrs Remove clothing Shock position Prevent shivering
What are heat cramps?
Water toxicity due to exercising in a hot environment with heavy sweating and large replacement of water(w/o salt)
Muscle cells cramp as they become hypotonic and expand As the pick up too much water from surrounding fluids
Often occur while cooling down
S/S of heat cramps
Pale
Cramps in legs and used muscles and sometime abdomen
Hx of prolonged heavy exertion in high heat
Nausea
Body temp normal
Heat cramps Tx
Replace electrolytes fluid
Remove from heat
Put at rest
Don’t massage or squeeze!
What is heat stroke?
Complete failure of body’s cooling system
Temp >105 F
(Brain cooks at 104)
What is the classic S/S of heat stroke
Hot, dry, flushed skin
What are the S/S of exertional heat stroke?
Hot, wet, pale skin ALOC-bizarre behavior Tachycardia, hypotension Seizure Dilated pupils
Heat Stroke Tx
Remove from heat Remove clothing Rapid cooling tepid water & fan No oral fluids O2 Shock position Fluid challenge if hypotensive ECG
Ref. 1227 Hyperthermia
ADEQUATE PERFUSION
Encourage oral fluids
I.V. prn
BASE CONTACT
NS fluid challenge
10ml/kg IV at 250ml increments
Ref. 1227 Hyperthermia
POOR PERFUSION
I.V.
If BGL
