Lesson 1 Flashcards
how many annual deaths from hypothermia each year?
8000
how do we protect ourselves from the colder environment?
outer shell gets thicker (skin + blood)
2 types of cold injuries
major and minor
minor cold injuries
frost nip
numbness
blanching of skin (face nose ears)
will heal on its own
major cold injuries
frostbite mild to severe caused by vasoconstriction reduces heat production 1-4th degree frostbite
skin freezing temp
-2.2
1st degree frostbite
epidermis only white or yellow no blister numb 7-10 days of healing
2nd degree frost bite
epidermis/superficial dermis stiff to touch blister no loss of tissue 3-4 weeks to heal
3rd degree frostbite
epidermis/dermis
stiff
skin will swell after thaw and reduce mobility
long healing period
4th degree frostbite
full thickness through dermis/muscle/bone necrosis? slow mummification doesn't recover
assessment of cold injuries
scene assessment
primary assessment
secondary assessment
treat hypothermia first then frostbite
3 reasons of dehydration
evaporation of sweat
cold induced diuresis
increased respiratory heat and fluid losses caused by dryness of the air
management
ABC
remove patient from environment
remove wet clothing
put effective area to warm body part
don’t start IV
turn up heat in ambulance
hypothermia temp
under 35C
mild hypo
32-25, vasoconstriction, shiver, increase HR, RR and BP
