Trauma - Environmental Emergency

Question 1

How do heat related illnesses occur and what are the three types?

Answer 1

Heat-related illnesses occur when there is an increase in core body temperature as a result of inadequate thermolysis—removal of heat from the body.

The body is unable to remove heat due to extreme environmental exposures, such as heat waves. When the core body temperature rises, the body can experience heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Question 2

What are the two forms of heat exhaustion?

Answer 2

Water-depleted heat exhaustion: Occurs primarily in elderly patients due to immobility, decreased thirst recognition, and medications that increase dehydration. Also occurs when people sweat and do not drink enough water, resulting in dehydration.



Sodium-depleted heat exhaustion: Results from sodium losses due to sweating. This is why it is important to drink salt containing liquids, such as sports drinks when vigorously sweating.

Question 3

What is heat stroke and what are the 2 key components to identify it?

Answer 3

Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency in which the body is unable to regulate temperature resulting in a dangerously elevated core body temperature.

The key components to identify heat stroke are a temperature above 104 degrees F and altered mental status.

Question 4

What are the signs and symptoms of Heat stroke?

Answer 4

1. ) No sweating
2. ) Dry, hot, red skin
3. ) Dizziness and head ache
4. ) Vomiting
5. ) Cramps
6. ) Rapid heartbeat
7. ) Pinpoint pupils
8. ) Unconsciousness
9. ) Rapid heartbeat

Question 5

What is hypothermia and what are the three levels of hypothermia?

Answer 5

Hypothermia is a decrease in core body temperature due to exposure to the cold environment and lack of thermogenesis—production of heat and energy. Hypothermia is caused by the inability of the body’s mechanisms to produce enough heat to withstand the cold environment.

The three levels of hypothermia are distinguished by the core body temperature: 1.) Mild (> 93.2 deg F),

2. ) Moderate (between 86 deg F and 93.2 deg F) and
3. ) Severe (< 86 deg F).

Question 6

How do you treat a patient with frostbite?

Answer 6

1. ) The first priority is to look for signs of hypothermia and treat that first.
2. ) Remove any wet clothing or jewelry that is remaining on the patient.
3. ) Wrap the frostbitten area with a sterile dressing.
4. ) Be sure not to attempt to pop any blisters, massage the affected area or try to rewarm the affected area in the field.
5. ) Rewarming of the area is best done in the hospital.

Question 7

What causes a bee sting to have such a high rate of morality?

Answer 7

Many people are allergic to bee stings. It is not the poison that causes so much harm, but rather the body’s reaction to it. People with severe allergies to bees can go into anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening emergency that can cause the tongue to swell up, dyspnea, and loss of consciousness.

Question 8

What is barotrauma and what are the two mechanism by which it can cause injury?

Answer 8

Barotrauma is any Injury that results from pressure imbalances within gas-filled spaces in the body. It is a common injury in scuba divers.

The two mechanisms are compression injuries,

1. ) in which gas-fill spaces of the body undergo immense pressure during descent
2. ) expansion injuries, in which gas-filled spaces expand too rapidly during ascent.