20. Heat/Cold Exposure - ABCD

Question 1

Problem Suffixes

Answer 1

H: Heat exposure
C: Cold exposure

Question 2

Rule 1

Answer 2

Life-threatening exposure situations are usually associated w/ priority symptoms

Question 3

Rule 2

Answer 3

Unconscious, non-breathing hypothermia patients should never be considered an OBVIOUS DEATH by dispatch or on-scene personnel and should be initially coded 9-E-1

Question 4

Axiom 1

Answer 4

Because a patient has a problem in a hot or cold environment does not mean the problem was caused by the environment. Heat or cold extremes may trigger other medical problems

Question 5

Axiom 2

Answer 5

A change in skin colour may be a significant sign in exposure situations

Question 6

Axiom 3

Answer 6

Gradual rewarming of frozen part is single most effective measure for preserving viable tissue

Question 7

Axiom 4

Answer 7

Hypothermic patients can appear dead, even to trained rescuers. A person isn’t considered actually dead until they are “warm and dead”

Question 8

Problems Associated with Heat/Cold Exposure

Answer 8

Heat Exhaustion: A non-life threatening problem with flu-like symptoms (paleness, sweating, nausea, and vomiting)
Heat Stroke: A potentially life-threatening problem with red, dry skin and decreased level of consciousness
Frostbite: Pale, gray, numb, bloodless, and cold; in deep frostbite, tissues feel woody or stronger
Hypothermia: Sluggish, decreased level of consciousness, paleness, cyanosis (blue or gray)