Trauma Lecture 8 Flashcards
thermolysis
heat loss
radiation
- loss of heat directly into a colder environment
- through ambient air
convection
- transfer of heat through circulating air
- requires the movement of air
- wind chill
- sauna
conduction
- transfer of heat from body to colder object
- requires touching an object
- laying out on a cold floor
evaporation
- when water turns to gas
- removes energy from the vaporizing liquid, causing a cooler temperature
- sweating
ventilation
body heat lost during breathing
hypothermia
excess loss of heat
hyperthermia
excess gail of heat
frostnip
freezing of the skin but not the deeper surface
frostbite
freezing of a body part, usually an extremity
immersion (trench) foot
prolonged exposure to cold water
treatment for cold injury
- remove the patient from further exposure
- handle the injured party gently
- remove wet or restricting clothing
- local rewarming is done at the hospital
mild hypothermia temperature
90-95 F, 32-35 C
moderate hypothermia tempearture
85-90 F, 29-32 C
severe hypothermia temperature
below 85 F, 29 C
signs and symptoms for mild hypothermia
- shivering
- cold skin
- alert
signs and symptoms for moderate hypothermia
- confusion, lethargy, sleepy
- slowing respirations, pulse
- loss of coordination, shivering stops
signs and symptoms of severe hypothermia
- weak, slow pulse
- memory loss, impaired judgement, unresponsive, appear dead
- dysrhythmias
treatment for hypothermia
- remove patient from cold environment
- handle the patient gently
- remove wet clothing and cover with blankets
- check pulse for 30-60 seconds
- oxygen if shortness of breath
- do not massage extremities or allow patient to eat or use any stimulants
active treatment
- for mild hypothermia ONLY
- turn heater in ambulance on high
- hot packs to neck, armpits, and groin area
passive treatment
- for mild, moderate, and severe
- turn on heater in ambulance on high
- remove wet or cold clothing and apply bankets
- active rewarmining can lead to cardiac dysrhythmias
signs and symptoms of heat cramps
- history of exertion with inadequate salt intake
- muscle spasms of the legs or abdomen
treatment for heat cramps
- remove the patient from hot env
- rest the cramping muscle
- replace fluids by mouth
- isotonic type solution
- if cramps do not go away, transport the patient to the hospital
signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion
- warm or cool, moist, and flushed skin
- headache
- nausea
- weakness
- dizziness
treatment for heat exhaustion
- remove patient from the hot environment
- loosen any tight clothing
- apply water and fan/AC
- cold pack in the groin and axilia
- oxygen if shortness of breath is present
- transport
signs and symptoms of heat stroke
- confusion, change of behavior, seizures
- hot, dry, flushed skin could still be moist
- sweating has stopped
- body has lost its ability to compensate
signs and symptoms of extertional heat stroke
skin may still be moist
treatment for heat stroke
- move patient out of hot environment
- oxygen if shortness of breath is present
- remove the patient’s clothing
- apply water and fan/AC
- apply cold packs to the patient’s neck, armpits, and groin trasport
drowning
death as a resut of suffocation after submersion in water
near-drowning
survival, at least temporarily, after suffocation in water
complications of drowning
- spinal injuries
- hypothermia
- diver’s reflux
complications of secondary drowning
- pulmonoary edema secondary to aspiration of fresh or saltwater
complications of shallow water drowning
- loss of stimulus to breathe
signs and symptoms of spinal injuries
- submersion has resulted from a diving mishap or long fall
- patient is unconscious
- patient complains of weakness, paralysis, or numbness
- suspect possibility of spinal injury
treatment for near-drowning
- rescue and remove from water
- spinal motion restriction
- be prepared to suction
- high flow oxygen via mask or BVM
- CPR is necessary
- remove wet clothing to prevent/treat for hypothermia
- transport
descent problems
- usually due to the suddent increase in pressure on the body as the person dives
- sinuses, ear drums pop
bottom problems
not commonly seen
ascent problems
- air embolism and decompression sickness
signs and symptoms of air embolism
- pressure decreases, air expands while in alveoli, blood stream
- rapid onset when at surface
- air enters pleural space, mediastinum, and bloodstream
- dizziness, nausea, vomiting
- dysphasia
- difficulty with vision
- dyspnea
- muscle/joint pain
- paralysis/ and or coma
- irregular pulse or cardiac arrest
signs and symptoms of decompression sickness (The Bends)
- occurs from too rapid ascent
- occurs when bubles of nitrogen obstruct blood vessels
- symptoms may develop while driving/flying
- gradual onset
- joint pain
- abdominal pain
- general fatigue
- ataxia, dysarthria
- vertigo
- nausea/vomiting
treatment for diving emergencies
- remove patient from water
- administer high flow oxygen
- left lateral or supine
- notify 911 for prompt transport to hyperbaric chamber for recompression
acute mointain sickness
physical distress from difficulty adjusting to lower oxygen pressure at high altitude.
high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE)
fluid into the lungs
high altitude cerebral edema (HACE)
fluid into the brain
lightning strike
- electrical problems with the heart/ nervous system injury
- reverse triage
radiation exposure
- cel phones
- microwave ovens
- ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun
types of bites
- bee stings
- spider bites
- snake bites
- scorpion stings
- dogs and humans
- marine animals
treatment for bees, hornets, and wasps
- remove the stinger with a dull edge
- monitor for anaphylaxis
treatment for spider bites
- ensure scene safety
- provide BLS transport
- administer oxygen if shortness of breath
pit vipers
- venom stored in sacs behind eyes
- injected to victim by fangs
- not fatal
- hemolytic; tissue damage
coral snakes
- injects venom with teeth, using chewing motion and eaving puncture wounds
- venom causes paralysis of the nervous system
treatment for snake bites
treat with O2
scorpion stings
- neurotoxic venom
- stinger is found in the tail
treatment for scorpion stings
- provide BLS care/ support and transport
tick bites
- infects organism through saliva
treatment for tick bites
use fine tweezers, grasp the tick by the body and pu it straight out of the skin
signs and symptoms of rocky mountain spotted fever
- nausea
- vomiting
- headache
- weakness
- paralysis
signs and symptoms of lyme disease
- bullseye rash
- swelling of the joints
- confused with rheumatoid arthritis
treatment for lyme disease
antibiotics
treatment for dog bites
- apply dry sterie dressings over wound and transport promply
- rabies vaccine injections
treatment for human bites
- apply dry sterile dressing
- provide transport to the hospital for surgical cleansing and antibiotic therapy
signs and symptoms of stinging marine animals
- headache
- dizziness
- muscle cramps
- fainting
treatment for marine stings
- limit further discharge
- apply rubbing alcohol and warm water
- monitor for anaphylaxis
- provide transport to hospital
