Heat and Cold Injuries

Question 1

What are the 5 different types of Heat Illness

Answer 1

• Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps
• Heat Syncope
• Heat Exhaustion
• Exertional Heat Injury
• Exertional Heat Stroke

Question 2

What are the signs/ symptoms and treatment for exercise associated muscle cramps

Answer 2

• Painful contractions of skeletal muscle during or after exercise
• Not directly related to elevated body core temperature
• s/sx: tics, twinges, stiffness, tremors, or contractures
• Tx: Rest, passive static stretching, electrolyte fluids and foods

Question 3

What are the signs/ symptoms and treatment for Heat Syncope

Answer 3

• “Orthostatic dizziness”
• First 5 days of heat exposure; Unfit or unacclimatized
• Sudden changes in posture
• Cause: Dehydration, venous pooling of blood, reduced cardiac filling, or low blood pressure
• Tx: Move person to a shaded area, monitor vitals, elevate legs above the level of the heart, cool the skin, and rehydrate

Question 4

What are the signs/ symptoms and treatment for Heat Exhaustion

Answer 4

• Inability to effectively exercise in heat, secondary to a combination of factors
• Cardio insufficiency, hypotension, energy depletion, and central fatigue
• Core temperature ≤40.5°C
• High rate of skin blood flow, heavy sweating, and dehydration
• Does not include: end-organ damage and CNS dysfunction
• Tx: Remove excess clothes, move to cool area, use fans/ice sheets, monitor vitals (rectal temp), supine resting position with feet elevated, and rehydrate

Question 5

What are the signs/ symptoms for Heat Stroke

Answer 5

• The most severe heat illness
• High core body temperature (≥40.5°C)
• Thermoregulatory system is overwhelmed
  Inhibited heat loss, decreased sweating, decreased evaporation
• S/sx: CNS dysfunction, high rectal temp
  Collapse, irritable, confused, seizure, altered state
• Multi Organ Failure

Question 6

What is the treatment for Heat Stroke

Answer 6

• Immediately lower core temperature within 30 min of collapse is critical
• Cold Water Immersion (whole body or up to the neck) 35°F - 59°F, stirring water continuously
• Remove excess clothes
• Monitor vitals (rectal temp) every 5-10 min
• Cool until temp is 102.8°F, then transport

Question 7

What are the 4 types of Cold Injury

Answer 7

• Hypothermia (Mild, Moderate, Severe; Core body temp below 95° F)
• Frostbite (Superficial and Deep, Freezing of body tissues)
• Chilblain (inflammatory response to cold, Constriction of vessels resulting in hypoxia)
• Immersion (Trench) Foot

Question 8

What is Frostbite

Answer 8

• Freezing of body tissues
• Water Crystallization , distal to proximal
• -28°F

Question 9

What is Chilblain

Answer 9

• Prolonged constriction of vessels resulting in hypoxia
• Cold, wet conditions
• Extended exposure (1-5 hours)

Question 10

What is Trench Foot, causes?

Answer 10

• Prolonged exposure to cold, wet conditions

- Continued wearing of wet socks or footwear

Question 11

What is the treatment of Hypothermia

Answer 11

• Monitor Rectal temp…; CPR?
• Remove wet clothes, use blankets, move athlete to warmth
• Apply heat only to the trunk, preventing AFTERDROP
  Dilation of peripheral vessels when warmed, which ↓ core temp
• Provide warm fluids and foods
• Avoid friction massage

Question 12

What is the treatment of Frostbite

Answer 12

• Rewarm using water temp 98°F - 104°F
• Once rewarming has begun, prevent refreezing
• Start with appropriate resources available
• Protect areas, if maintaining temp is not possible
• NECROSIS
• Circulate water during 15-30 min immersion

Question 13

What is the treatment of Chilblain

Answer 13

• Skin may be inflamed, swell, be itchy, and/or burn when rewarming occurs
• Remove wet clothes, dry areas, elevate areas, cover with warm/loose garments
• Do not massage areas

Question 14

What is the treatment of Immersion Foot

Answer 14

• Maintain a DRY environment
• Clean and dry feet
• Apply warm packs or soak in warm water