Prevention and Treatment of Field Related Injuries

Question 1

insects located in the Quantico area that can cause disease or illness are

Answer 1

 Ticks.
 Chiggers.
 Bees.

Question 2

two diseases that can be spread by means of a tick bite are

Answer 2

Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease

Question 3

Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include

Answer 3

 Nausea.
 Vomiting.
 Headache.
 Weakness.
 Paralysis.
 In extreme cases, cardio-respiratory collapse

Question 4

Signs will begin to show about ten days after being bitten by an infected tick and can include:

Answer 4

 A progressive red rash develops and may spread to several parts of the body. It may resemble a “bulls-eye”, with rings of discoloration.
 Painful swelling of the joints, particularly the knees.

Question 5

To prevent chances of a tick bite use

Answer 5

 Use insect repellent on target areas such as under the arms or the area near the top of the boot.
 Make sure sleeves are rolled down and boots are bloused.

Question 6

If a person is bitten by a tick they should

Answer 6

 Carefully and slowly remove the tick physically. Use fine tweezers to grasp the tick by the body and pull it slowly, and steadily, straight out of the skin.
 Do not try to suffocate the tick with gasoline or Vaseline or to burn it with a lighted match as you can possibly injure yourself.
 Avoid handling the tick with your hands
 Once the tick is removed, use disinfectant on the area.

Question 7

Symptoms of chigger bites include

Answer 7

 Small welts on the skin.

 Intense itching.

Question 8

To prevent chigger bites use

Answer 8

 Use insect repellent on target areas, especially the lower legs.
 Keep sleeves rolled down and boots bloused

Question 9

If someone has been stung by a bee you should

Answer 9

 If the stinger remains embedded, scrape it off without injecting additional venom.
 Wash the sting site with soap and water; use ice to reduce pain.
 If extremities are bitten, remove rings or watches to allow for swelling.
 Any serious reactions indicate a possible allergic reaction; individuals so affected should seek medical attention.

Question 10

If someone is bitten by a human or animal you should

Answer 10

 Wash the wound with water and soap.
 Cover the wound with a sterile, dry dressing or bandage.
 Immobilize the area with a splint or bandage if necessary.
 Get the casualty to a medical facility as soon as possible.

Question 11

Symptoms of a black widow spider bite are:

Answer 11

 No apparent mark.
 Neurotoxin poison resulting in muscle cramps (especially the abdomen).
 Tightness in the chest or difficulty breathing.
 Nausea.
 Vomiting.
 Sweating.

Question 12

If someone is bitten by a black widow spider you should

Answer 12

 Render basic life support for the victim if in respiratory distress. Much more commonly, the victim will require relief from pain.
 If the site of the bite can be identified, putting a cold compress against it may slow the absorption of toxin.
 Transport the victim to a medical facility as soon as possible. If possible, bring the spider to the facility with you.

Question 13

Symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite are:

Answer 13

 Red, swollen bite site.
 Blister forming on the bite site.
 Fever.
 After a few days, a scab forms on the bite site and later leaves an ulcer or possibly gangrene

Question 14

To treat a brown recluse spider bite you should

Answer 14

 Render basic life support for the victim if in respiratory distress. Much more commonly, the victim will require relief from pain.
 If the site of the bite can be identified, putting a cold compress against it may slow the absorption of toxin.
 Transport the victim to a medical facility as soon as possible. If possible, bring the spider to the facility with you

Question 15

For a scorpion sting, follow the same procedures you use to

Answer 15

treat spider bites

Question 16

The two families of poisonous snakes in the United States are

Answer 16

the crotalidae and the elapidae

Question 17

The Crotalidae snake family includes

Answer 17

 Rattlesnakes.
 Pygmy rattlers.
 Copperheads.
 Water moccasins.
 Cottonmouths.

Question 18

The family of the Elapidae snakes has only one representative

Answer 18

the coral snake

Question 19

When Identifying the Snake check for these points

Answer 19

Arrangement of teeth
Rattle
Sensory pits
Color and pattern of coloration
The shape of the head, as well as the subcaudal plates, will generally characterize harmless snakes from poisonous.
The shape of the eyes also tells a harmless snake from a poisonous snake.

Question 20

Hemotoxic Snakebite Symptoms are

Answer 20

 Excruciating pain at the site of the bite.
 Severe headache and thirst caused by internal bleeding.
 Puncture marks.
 Shock.
 Respiratory distress

Question 21

Neurotoxic Snakebite Symptoms are

Answer 21

 Irregular heartbeat, followed by generalized weakness and exhaustion, terminating in shock.
 Severe headache, dizziness, blurred vision or blindness, hearing difficulty, mental disturbances such as incoherent speech, stupor, and mental confusion.
 Lack of muscular coordination (e.g., the inability to reach out and pick up an object), muscle spasms, and twitching.
 Difficult or labored breathing.
 Numbness and tingling of the skin (particularly of the lips and the soles of the feet).
 Excessive perspiration.
 Chills and fever.
 Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

Question 22

Emergency Treatment for Hemotoxic or Neurotoxic Snakebites is

Answer 22

 Calm and reassure the patient. Get the patient to lie down and keep quiet to decrease the spread of any venom through the system.
 Locate the bite area; clean it gently with soap and water or a mild antiseptic.
 Wrap soft rubber tubes or bands two to four inches above and below the fang marks; tighten them just enough to occlude the venous circulation, not the arterial circulation.
 Remove constrictive clothing and jewelry to allow for swelling. Loosen the constricting bands as necessary to allow for swelling.
 Do not wrap the limb in ice or put ice directly on the skin. Cool the bite area, but do not freeze it.
 Immobilize the extremity with a splint

Question 23

The following poisonous snakes are found within the Quantico training area

Answer 23

 Copperhead: Most commonly found, typically three to five feet long.
 Timber rattlesnake: Infrequently seen, three to five feet long.
 Water moccasin: Found in southern Virginia, infrequently spotted around Quantico

Question 24

The six types of heat injuries are

Answer 24

Sunburn
Prickly heat rash
Fungus infections
Heat cramps
Heat exhaustion
Heat stroke.

Question 25

Heat cramps symptoms are

Answer 25

 Muscle cramps, particularly in the legs and abdomen.

 Profuse sweating and faintness

Question 26

To treat heat cramps you

Answer 26

 Give the victim small sips of cool water.
 Remove the victim to a cool or shaded area.
 Massage cramped muscles.
 If indications of a more serious condition are present, transport the victim to medical attention

Question 27

Heat exhaustion symptoms are:

Answer 27

 Rapid, shallow breathing.
 Dizziness.
 Blurred vision.
 Pale, clammy skin.
 Profuse sweating, normally accompanies this condition.

Question 28

To treat heat exhaustion

Answer 28

 Remove excessive clothing.
 Place the victim in a cool, shaded area.
 Fan or sprinkle victim with water to keep cool.
 If conscious, give victim small sips of water.
 Treat victim also for shock,.
 Seek medical attention should indications of a more serious problem exist.

Question 29

Symptoms of heat stroke are:

Answer 29

 Shortness of breath.
 Weakness.
 Headache.
 Dizziness.
 Loss of appetite.
 Nausea.
 Muscle-twitching leading to convulsions.
 Dilated pupils.
 Lack of sweating.
 Full, fast pulse; delirium and eventual loss of consciousness

Question 30

To treat heat stroke

Answer 30

 Send for medical assistance.
 Move the victim to a cool, shaded area.
 Loosen victim’s clothing and equipment.
 Apply water or ice to the victim’s entire body, fanning the victim as much as possible.
 Do not attempt to force the victim to drink.
 Ensure that the airway remains open and that the victim continues to breathe

Question 31

The four environmental factors that make up the WBGT index are:

Answer 31

 Air movement.
 Air temperature.
 Relative humidity.
 Radiant heat

Question 32

If the environment is cooler than the body, heat leaves the body by seven means:

Answer 32

Radiation-
The loss of heat into still air
Conduction: The loss of heat due to contact with an object that is colder than the body
Convection: The body continually warms (by radiation) a thin layer of air next to the skin to a temperature nearly equal to that of the skin
Evaporation: The evaporation of sweat from the skin accounts for a substantial heat loss
Respiration: Inhaling cool air and exhaling warm air contribute to heat loss
Wind chill:
Water chill: The thermal conductivity of water is 32 times as great as that of still air.

Question 33

Frostbite symptoms are

Answer 33

 Sensations of cold or pain.
 Complete loss of sensation in the affected area. The sensation is described as feeling “like a stump,” “like a block of wood,” or “cube-like.”
 Tissue becomes hard and red, and then turns white, white-yellow or mottled blue-white, and cold.
 Swelling may occur, and blisters may form on the affected area.

Question 34

To treat frostbite,

Answer 34

 Move the casualty to a heated area such as a warming tent or vehicle.
 Remove or loosen constrictive clothing to allow the blood to circulate freely to the affected area.
 For deep frostbite, which has penetrated below the upper layers of skin and into the muscles, transport the victim immediately to a medical facility. Do not attempt to thaw the affected area.
 Do not rub snow on a frostbitten area nor immerse it in boiling water

Question 35

Symptoms of immersion foot are

Answer 35

 Pale, wrinkled, loose, spongy, cold, swollen, and waxy skin on the feet.
 Discoloration develops as the transition to gangrene occurs.

Question 36

To treat and prevent trench foot,

Answer 36

 Keep the feet dry.
 Change socks often and air-dry or blot the moisture off.
 Keep the feet warm.
 Change socks often and use foot powder to absorb excess moisture.
 Only wear vapor barrier boots when necessary, and once afflicted, walk only as much as necessary

Question 37

Symptoms of hypothermia by core body temperature are

Answer 37

 Temp 99° to 96° F: Shivering becomes intense and uncontrollable. The ability to perform complex tasks is impaired.
 Temp 95° F to 91° F: Violent shivering persists. Victims have difficulty speaking and are sluggish in their thinking. Furthermore, victims may be stubborn, hallucinating, and extremely fatigued. Apathy may begin to set in.
 Temp 90° to 86° F: Shivering decreases and is replaced by strong muscular rigidity. Exposed skin may become blue or puffy.
 Temp 85° to 81° F: Victims become irrational, lose contact with reality, and drift into a stupor. Pulse and respiration are slowed.
 Temp 80° to 78° F: Victims lose consciousness; reflexes cease to function. The heartbeat becomes erratic.
 Temp < 78° F: Failure of the cardiac and respiratory control centers in the brain. Death.

Question 38

To treat hypothermia

Answer 38

Evacuate the individual to a medical facility as soon as possible.
Remove all wet clothing and replace with dry items.
As with frostbite, gradually warm the body
Continuously monitor the victim’s respiration and heartbeat; administer CPR, if required, to maintain circulation.
Warm liquids in small sips may be given if the victim is conscious.

Question 39

Use the acronym COLD when preparing for cold-weather operations or treating cold-weather injuries:

Answer 39

C: Keep it Clean
O: Avoid Overheating
L: Wear clothing Loosely and in Layers
D: Keep it Dry.

Question 40

Cold Weather Injury Prevention is

Answer 40

Closely observe personnel who have previously become cold casualties.

Diet is important

Water is also important

Alcoholic beverages should be avoided

The importance of individual skills should not be underestimated.

Preventing Marines from overdressing or standing around in the cold doing nothing while dressed lightly for movements are just two considerations.