Hypothermia and Hyperthermia

Question 1

The body gets rid of excess by

Answer 1

Sweating and dilation of the blood vessels (this brings the blood closer to the skin and allows it to radiate off)

Question 2

Hyperthermia is classified as

Answer 2

a core body temperature exceeding 101°F

Question 3

Factors that can cause hyperthermia include

Answer 3

• It is most commonly caused by dehydration
• High air temperature can prevent heat from radiating off
• Vigorous exercise, which can cause loss of fluids and electrolytes
• Heart disease, COPD, Diabetes and Obesity

Question 4

Illness caused by hyperthermia includes

Answer 4

• Heat crams
• Heat exhaustion
• Heatstroke

Question 5

Heat cramps signs and symptoms include

Answer 5

• Painful muscle spasms, typically in the extremities
• Can also manifest in the abdomen

Question 6

Heat exhaustion signs and symptoms include

Answer 6

• Can be caused by heat exposure, stress and fatigue, as a result of hypovolemia
• Dizziness, weakness or faintness
• Muscle cramping
• Cold clammy skin
• Dry tongue and thirst
• Normal vital signs, although may have a fast and weak heart rate or a slightly low blood pressure
• Core body temperature around 104°F

Question 7

Heatstroke signs and symptoms include

Answer 7

Early signs include:

• First sign is change in behavior
• Falling blood pressure
• Increasing BPM
• Increased respiratory rate

Late signs include:

• Hot, dry, flushed skin
• Core body temperature around 106°F
• LOC diminishes and may result in unconciousness

Question 8

Treatment for heat cramps (listed in priority order)

Answer 8

1) Remove patient from hot environment and loosen any tight clothing
2) Administer high-flow oxygen
3) Rest the cramping muscles
4) Replace fluids by mouth
5) Cool the patient with a mist and fan them

Question 9

Treatment for heat exhaustion (listed in priority order)

Answer 9

1) Remove extra clothing
2) Move patient to cooler environment
3) Administer high flow oxygen
4) Place patient in supine position, elevate legs, and fan the patient
5) If unaltered LOC, give water by mouth
6) If nausea develops, transport patient on their side

Question 10

Treatment for heatstroke (listed in priority order)

Answer 10

1) Move patient out of hot environment into ambulance
2) Turn air conditioner on maximum
3) Remove patients clothing
4) Administer high flow oxygen
5) Apply cool packs to the patients neck, groin and armpits
6) Cover the patient in wet towels or sheets and mist them
7) Aggressively fan the patient
8) Provide emergent transport

Question 11

The body can lose heat by

Answer 11

• Conduction, or the direct transfer of heat from direct contact
• Convection, or when heat is transferred from moving air
• Evaporation, the conversion of liquid to gas, taking the heat with it
• Radiation, or light waves transfer heat
• Respiration, when warm air in the lungs is exhaled into the atmosphere

Question 12

Hypothermia is classified as

Answer 12

a core body temperature less than 95°F

Question 13

Signs and symtoms for hypothermia include

Answer 13

Characteristics of systemic hypothermia (page 1063 Table 30-1, sorry, formatting a table was impossible on this)

Question 14

Hypothermia can cause localized injuries as well, including

Answer 14

• Frostnip
• Immersion Foot
• Frostbite

Question 15

Frostnip description

Answer 15

• Prolonged exposure to the cold, with freezing skin but deeper tissue unaffected
• Usually affects ear, nose and fingers
• It is usually not painful, so patients generally unaware

Question 16

Immersion Foot description

Answer 16

Also called trench foot, this occurs after prolonged exposure to cold water

Signs and Symptoms include;

• Pale and cold skin
• Normal color does not return after palpation
• Skin of the foot may be wrinkled or soft
• Patient has loss of feeling and sensation in affected areas

Question 17

Frostbite Description

Answer 17

Most serious localized injury because tissue froze

Requires surgery

Signs and symptoms include;

• Most frostbitten parts are hard and waxy
• The injured part feels firm to frozen as you touch it
• Blisters and swelling may be present
• The depth of skin damage will vary

Question 18

Treating localized cold injuries (priority order)

Answer 18

1) Remove patient from cold exposure
2) Adminster high flow oxygen
3) Remove wet and restricting clothing
4) Actively rewarm if there is no chance of reinjury
5) Splint extremity and cover it with dry sterile dressing
6) Do not rewarm late or deep cold injury unless directed to by medical control
7) Warm patient and treat for hypothermia
8) Never rewarm if there is a chance it may freeze again