Wilderness Med Flashcards
Our baseline metabolism raises our body heat ___ every hour
1.1 degrees celsius
Fortunately we transfer heat into the environment via
- Conduction: direct contact
- Convection: air currents
- Radiation: being in space that is cooler than our own body
- Evaporation (most effective way we lose heat)
Physiologic changes under heat stress
- HR increases
- peripheral vasodilation
- sweating
Risk factors for heat illness
- young and old
- Meds (anticholinergic, BB, lithium)
- alcohol
- Obesity
- CHF
- mental illness
- athletes, laborers, military
- low socioeconomic position
Tx of heat cramps
electrolyte repletion, NS IV
*often after exercise
Tx of heat syncope
Horizontal positioning
Tx of heat edema
leg elevation, compression hose, acclimatization
Tx of heat rash
chlorhexidine cream
*usually under clothed areas (macular-papular rash)
Definition
Volume depletion in the setting of heat stress
heat exhaustion
signs and sx of heat exhaustion
- Fatigue
- Nausea/vomiting, anorexia
- Heat cramps
- LOC: dizzy/syncope
- HR and RR increased
- Skin: pale, cool, clammy, flushed
heat illnesses
- minor heat illnesses
- heat exhaustion
- heat stroke
tx of heat exhaustion
- Rest
- Cool environment
- CBC and chemistry (Cr)
- IV fluids
- Consider admission for elderly patients or those with significant electrolyte abnormalities
Life-threatening rise in internal temperature
Classic and exertion
heat stroke
signs and sx of heat stroke
- LOC: Disoriented, irritable, combative, unresponsive
- Altered mental status*** (Helps differentiate from heat exhaustion), hallucinations, seizures
- Ataxia
- Increased HR and RR
- Skin: Hot, wet or dry, flushed
- Core temp > 104 degrees
- Elevated Transaminases in liver function and Cr
How does humidity effect our cooling mechansim
more difficult to cool off
Tx of heat stroke
- Aggressive cooling*** (evaporative or immersive)
- Ice packs, cooling blankets, lavage
- Airway monitoring and management
- Avoid antipyretics ie. NSAIDs (DONT HELP–> too hot)
- IV fluids if hypotensive after cooling
- Admission
what is drowning definition
Respiratory impairment from submersion in a liquid
Describe the physiology of drowning
Submersion - panic - breath holding - struggle - hypoxia - loss of consciousness - respiratory arrest - cardiac arrest