Exam 5 Study Guide Flashcards
Near Drowning
A patient who survives, at least temporarily for 24 hours, after suffocation in water or other liquids.
Lightning Strikes DO NOT cause full thickness burns - WHY?
Because the duration of the lightning strike is SHORT.
Loss of body heat primarily happens where?
Cold Environments
Radiation
The Head
Hypothermia
MILD 95-90F with CBT 95-93F
Signs and Symptoms
Shivering and Foot Stamping
Constricted Blood Vessels and Rapid Breathing
Withdrawn
Hypothermia
Moderate 90-82F with CBT 92-89F
Signs and Symptoms
Loss of coordination and muscle stiffness
Slowing respirations and slow pulse
Confused, lethargic and Sleepy
Shivering Stops
Hypothermia
Moderate CBT 88-80F
Signs and Symptoms
Coma
Weak Pulse, dysrhythmias, very slow respirations
Unresponsive
PT may try to remove clothes
Poor coordination and memory loss
Reduced or complete loss of sensation to touch
Mood Changes
Impaired Judgements
Hypothermia
Severe Less than 82F with CBT Less than 80F
Signs and Symptoms
Apparent Death
Cardiac Arrest
Unresponsive
What causes lethal Cardiac Dysrhythmias in hypothermic patients?
May occur as a direct effect of cold as cardiac tissues become more irritable or as the blood pressure decreases.
Definition
Thermogenesis
The physiologic process of heat production in the body
Definition
Thermolysis
The process of heat loss
Inadequate thermolysis causes reduced heat which will then cause what?
Hyperthermia
Definition
Heat Stroke
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.
Signs and Symptoms
Heat Stroke
- Warm Dry Skin
- Severely Altered Mental Status
- May still be sweating if caught early
- AMS that can develop to Coma
- Seizure may be present
- Pulse may start rapid and strong, but as severity worsens it may weaken and the BP may drop
- Increases RR.
What causes heat cramps?
The exact cause is not fully understood, but is probably due to loss of electrolytes, imbalance of electrolytes, or dehydration.
Most Common Routes for Poisonings?
- Ingestion
- Inhalation
- Absorption
- Injection
Definition
Substance Abuse
Self administration of licit or elicit substances in a manner not in accordance with the approved medical or social practice.
Signs and Symptoms
Cyanide Poison
- AMS
If NOT Altered PT may report.
- Headache
- Palpitations
- Dyspnea - Bitter almond odor on breath
- Initially rapid and labored respirations as deterioration continues, respirations can become slow and gasping.
- Rapid and thready pulse
- Vomit
- Seizures
- Coma
Why should an extremity never be rewarmed?
Gangrene or Amputation may occur if they are rewarmed under uncontrolled circumstances.
Rewarming to quickly can cause vasodilation, leading to more cold exposure to the core.
Rewarming techniques for:
MILD Hypothermia
Passive rewarming.
Take to a warm environment
Remove wet clothing
Place heat packs
Rewarming techniques for:
Moderate to Severe Hypothermia
Lavage with warm fluids
Extracorporeal rewarming
Signs of Frostbite
- Hard Waxy Feeling of the Tissue
- Firm Frozen Feeling upon touch
- If only skin-may feel hard or leathery to the touch.
- Blisters may appear
- Mottled or Cyanotic Skin
Heat Exhaustion
Signs & Symptoms
- Hypovolemia
- Cold Clammy Skim with Ashen Pallor
- Dry Tongue and Thirst
- Dizziness, Weakness, Or Faintness with accompanying nausea or headache.
- Muscle and Abdominal Cramping
- Normal Vitals with Rapid Pulse and low BP
- Normal or Slightly elevated body temp.
Heat Stroke
Signs & Symptoms
- Hot, Dry and Flushed Skin
- Rapid and Strong Pulse at first, as deterioration continues, pulse may become weaker and BP Falls
- No longer has perspirations, however skin may still be moist if caught early.
- AMS to Unresponsiveness
- Increased RR
- Seizure may be noted.
Reverse Triage
Definition
A triage process in which efforts are focused on those who are in respiratory or cardiac arrest.
Different from conventional triage where such patients would be classified as decreased.
Used in triaging victims of a lightning strike.