Chapter 33: Environmental Emergencies Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Chapter 33: Environmental Emergencies Deck (32)
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1
Q

What four factors affect how a person deals with a cold or hot environments?

A
  1. Physical Condition
  2. Age (very young/old most at risk)
  3. Nutrition and hydration (alcohol consumption- risk factor)
  4. Environmental conditions
2
Q

What five ways does heat loss occur?

A

Conduction: Direct contact
Convection: Circulating air
Evaporation: Liquid to gas removes heat
Radiation: Radiant energy- light
Respiration: Warm air out, (leading to cold air in)

3
Q

What are the three ways to regulate body temp?

A
  1. Increase or decrease body heat production
  2. Move to area where heat loss is decreased or increased
  3. Wear appropriate clothing fro the environment
4
Q

When is hypothermia diagnosed?

A

When core body temperature drops below 95*F, at this point the body cannot regulate its tempurature and generate body heat

5
Q

Who is more susceptible to hypothermia?

A

Patients with injuries or illnesses ie burns, shock, head injury, stroke, generalized infection, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, hypoglycemia,
Patients taking alcohol or certain drugs
Children or older adults

6
Q

What are the signs and symptoms of the three stages of hypothermia?

A

Mild: Core temp 93.2-98F, alert and shivering/jumping/stamping, pulse rate and respiration rapid, red or pale then cyanotic skin, cyanotic lips or fingertips
Moderate: Core temp 86-93.2
F, shivering stops (90F) and muscular activity decreases eventually stopping- starts with fine muscle activity
Severe: Core temp less than 86
F lethargy, stops fighting cold, LOC decreases, pt may try to remove clothes, poor coordination, memory loss, reduced or lost sensation, mood changes, impaired judgement, less communicative, joint/muscle stiffness, trouble speaking, stiff/rigid
Below 80*F vitals slow/decrease
Never assume cold/pulseless person is dead

7
Q

What are potential underlying factors to determine severity of local cold injury?

A

Exposure to wet conditions, inadequate insulation from cold or wind, restricted circulation from tight clothing, shoes, or circulatory disease, fatigue, poor nutrition, alcohol or drug abuse, hypothermia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, age

8
Q

What is hyperthermia?

A

High core temperature: above 101*F

9
Q

What are the three forms of heat emergencies?

A

Heat cramps-painful muscle spasms (often after vigorous exercise), heat exhaustions- (most common, hypovolemia), and heat stroke (more heat than body can handle leads to death)

10
Q

Who is at greatest risk of heat emergencies?

A

Children, geriatric pts, heart disease, COPD, diabetes, dehydration, obesity, limited mobility

11
Q

What are the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion?

A

Dizziness & fainting, heavy sweating, cold. pale, and clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, fast, weak pulse, weakness or muscle cramps, excessive thirst

12
Q

What do different skin types indicate?
1. Moist, pale, cool
2. Hot, dry
3. Hot, moist

A
  1. Excessive fluid and salt loss
  2. Body is unable to regulate core temp
  3. Body is unable to regulate core temp
13
Q

Symptoms of heatstroke?

A

Headache, confusion or delirium, possible loss of consciousness, absence of sweating or dry skin except in exertional heat stroke, nausea or vomiting, rapid heart rate, body temp above 104*F

14
Q

How much faster does body temperature drop in water than in air?

A

25-30 times faster

15
Q

What are risk factors of urban hypothermia?

A

Predisposition, disability, illness, medication

16
Q

What is the general treatment of hypothermia?

A

Move to warm area- carefully to prevent cardiac dysrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation), remove wet clothing, if oxygen required: warm & humidified, Cover head, if CPR necessary no more than 3 shocks

17
Q

How does the treatment of hypothermia differ from mild to moderate/severe cases?

A

Mild: heat packs to groin, axillary, cervical; warm fluid by mouth, no stimulants
Moderate/severe: no active rewarming

18
Q

What are the factors of localized cold injuries?

A

Duration, temperature, wind velocity

19
Q

What are the localized cold injuries? What causes them and what do they look like?

A

Trench/ immersion foot: prolonged exposure to cool/cold water - white
Frost nip: skin freezes, tingling- not painful
Frostbite: tissue freezes- hard/waxy, red w/ purple & white, or mottled and cyanotic

20
Q

What is hyponatremia?

A

Lack of salts

21
Q

What should be considered with hyperthermia?

A

Mental status, skin temperature, level of moisture

22
Q

How do treatments differ between heat cramps, exhaustion, and stroke?

A

Cramps: change environment, replace fluids, cool with water spray, rest cramping muscles
Exhaustion: remove clothing, oxygen, recovery position
Stroke: Cool packs to neck, groin, armpits, fan patient, remove clothing, transport, do not give anything to drink

23
Q

What are risk factors of drowning?

A

Alcohol, seizures, geriatric w/ cardiac issues, lack of supervision
may have spinal injuries

24
Q

What is the most common diving emergency and what do you do?

A

Ascent emergency: Air embolism/ decompression sickness
Treatment: Hyperbaric chamber

25
Q

What are the four types of lightning strikes?

A

Direct strike, contact strike, splash/side flash strike, ground current/ step voltage strike

26
Q

What are the three severities of lightning strikes?

A

Mild: loss of consciousness, amnesia, tingling, confusion, superficial burns
Moderate: Seizure, respiratory arrest, asystole, superficial burns
Severe: cardiac arrest

27
Q

What is treatment for a snake bite?

A

Wash the bite site, keep patient calm, take picture of snake, notify ER, transport ASAP

28
Q

What is treatment for marine life?

A

Neutralize poison with vinegar, remove tentacles with edge of stiff object

29
Q

At what temperature are you no longer able to shiver?

A

Below 90F (32C)

30
Q

How does hypothermia worsen internal bleeding?

A

Blood-clotting abnormalities

31
Q

What is a late sign of heat stroke?

A

Weak, rapid pulse

32
Q

What signs/symptoms indicate Lyme disease?

A

Sickness, large rash, small painful blister, (and history of camping)