Terms 12,25,26,28 Flashcards
dermal poison
a toxin absorbed through the skin.
designer drug
a drug constructed by a chemist to produce unique and specific effects.
ingested poison
a toxin that enters the body through the mouth.
inhaled poison
a toxin that is absorbed through the lungs.
injected poison
a toxin injected into a vein or another tissue.
opiate
a narcotic drug that is derived from and has the same effect as opium.
poison
any substance that is injurious to health or dangerous to life.
substance abuse
the intentional misuse of a substance that results in significant impairment.
toxicological event
an event where a patient has been exposed to a harmful substance OR an incident in which the intentional or unintentional use of a substance or poison either endangers public safety and/or results in a medical emergency.
toxin
a noxious or poisonous substance produced by an organism.
withdrawal
the physical and mental readjustment that accompanies the discontinued use of an addictive substance.
afterdrop
a continued drop in core temperature after removal from cold exposure.
convection
direct transfer of heat through circulating air; is increased when skin is exposed to wind.
frostbite
damage to tissues from freezing due to the formation of ice crystals between and within cells, rupturing the cells and leading to cell death.
hypothermia
an abnormally low body temperature; below 95F (35C).
thermoregulation
the process of maintaining normal body temperature.
wind chill
the apparent temperature felt on exposed skin; is a function of the air temperature and wind speed.
ambient temperature
the temperature in the immediate environment.
core body temperature
the temperature in the part of the body that contains the vital organs.
heat acclimatization
adaptation of the body over time to a hot environment.
heat cramps
painful muscle cramps that result from dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
heat exhaustion
a condition characterized by fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and headache caused by dehydration and elevated core body temperature.
heat index
a measure of the risk for heat illness; combines the effects of increasing ambient temperature and increasing humidity.
heat stroke
a life-threatening elevation of core body temperature associated with shock and a deteriorating level of responsiveness.
heat-related syncope
fainting secondary to pooling of the blood in the extremities due to increased core body temperature.
humidity
the amount of water vapor in the air.
hyperthermia
elevated core body temperature.
hyponatremia
dilution of the sodium level in the blood.
acclimatization
the body’s physiologic process of gradual adjustment to changes in such factors as light, temperature, or altitude.
acute mountain sickness (AMS)
a usually mild medical condition that is caused by exposure to high altitude.
altitude illness
encompasses all types of illness due to altitude (AMS, HAPE, and HACE).
ataxia
uncoordinated muscle movements; at high altitudes, it is associated with HACE.
chilblains
a skin condition resembling frost nip that results from prolonged exposure to cold, wet conditions.
Gamow bag
a portable hyperbaric chamber that is used to treat high-altitude sickness.
high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE)
a potentially deadly condition in which the brain swells in individuals at high altitude.
high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE)
a condition in which fluid accumulates in the lungs of individuals at high altitude.
hypoxemia
insufficient oxygenation of the blood.
khumbu cough
a dry, persistent cough caused by inhaling excessively cold dry air that is typical at high altitude; also known as high-altitude bronchitis.
sleeping altitude
the altitude to which a climber descends to sleep to prevent AMS; is typically 500-1,000 feet below the highest elevation of that day’s ascent.
