Climatic Injuries

Question 1

What are the aspects of a hot dry climate?

Answer 1

Average temp: 50 degrees
Temp variation: Hot days & cold nights
Seasonal variation: evident
Humidity: 5-30%
Vegetation: none or sparse

Question 2

What are aspects of a hot wet climate?

Answer 2

Average temp: 25-30 degrees
Temp variation: little
Seasonal variation: little
Humidity: 90-99%
Vegetation: thick dense jungle

Question 3

What are examples of minor heat illness?

Answer 3

Fainting
Heat cramps
Sunburn
Prickly heat

Question 4

What are examples of major heat illnesses?

Answer 4

Hyperthermia/Heat exhaustion
Heat stroke

Question 5

What are the aspects of a cold wet climate?

Answer 5

Temperature: near freezing
Temp variation: freezing and thawing
Weather: wet, snow, sleet or rainfall

Question 6

What are the aspects of a cold dry climate?

Answer 6

Temp: well below freezing
Temp variation: little or none
Weather: snow, dry and powdery, ground frozen and dry

Question 7

What are examples of freezing cold injuries?

Answer 7

Hypothermia
Frostbite

Question 8

What are examples of non-freezing cold injuries?

Answer 8

Trench foot
Frost nip
Windburn

Question 9

What causes fainting?

Answer 9

Lowered blood pressure due to blood diverting from core to skin

Water loss from blood due to sweating

Question 10

What causes heat cramps?

Answer 10

Excessive loss of salt through sweating

Question 11

What causes sunburn?

Answer 11

Exposure to UV radiation

Question 12

What causes prickly heat?

Answer 12

Sweat glands blocked by dead skin cells, bacteria and dirt causing inflammation.

Question 13

What causes hyperthermia?

Answer 13

Rise in body temp above 39 degrees

Question 14

What causes heatstroke?

Answer 14

Advanced hyperthermia, body temp above 41 degrees

Body unable to sweat due to dehydration

Question 15

What causes hypothermia?

Answer 15

Body temp drops below 35 degrees

Question 16

What causes frostbite?

Answer 16

Loss of blood supply to tissue due to vasoconstriction

Question 17

What causes trench foot?

Answer 17

Cold wet conditions between 0-15 degrees

Question 18

What causes frostnip?

Answer 18

Lack of blood flow and heat loss, early stage of frostbite

Question 19

What causes windburn?

Answer 19

Cold wind removed too layer of oil from skin leading to excessive dryness and cracking

Question 20

What causes snow blindness?

Answer 20

Unprotected exposure to bright UV rays reflected from ice and snow

Question 21

What causes contact injuries?

Answer 21

Brief contact with very low temp objects leading to a burn. Skin moisture freezes instantly and can stick to object

Question 22

What causes carbon monoxide poisoning?

Answer 22

Attempts to warm self in enclosed environments with vehicle fumes, kerosene stoves etc.

Question 23

What are the symptoms of fainting?

Answer 23

Less oxygen reaching the brain

Question 24

What are the symptoms of heat cramps?

Answer 24

Intense thirst
Muscle cramps
Rapid pulse
Nausea

Question 25

What are the symptoms of sunburn?

Answer 25

Skin damage Risk of cancer

Question 26

What are the symptoms of prickly heat?

Answer 26

Inflammation Red itchy spots or blisters Prickling sensation

Question 27

What are the symptoms of heat exhaustion?

Answer 27

Headache Nausea Fatigued Dizziness Light headedness Flushed and sweaty Feel hot

Question 28

What are symptoms of heat stroke?

Answer 28

Dry skin Headache Rapid bounding pulse CNS impairment Hyperventilation

Question 29

What are symptoms of hypothermia?

Answer 29

Feel intensely cold Involuntary shivering Mood changes Locomotor impairment Tiredness

Question 30

What are the symptoms of frostbite?

Answer 30

Early signs: redness and blistering Advanced signs: black discolouration

Question 31

What are the symptoms of trench foot?

Answer 31

Cold, swollen and mottled skin Long term muscle nerve and skin tissue damage in severe cases

Question 32

What are symptoms of frost nip?

Answer 32

Pasty white skin Loss of sensation

Question 33

What are symptoms of windburn?

Answer 33

Redness with burning and itchy feeling Can be mistaken for sunburn

Question 34

What are the symptoms of snow blindness?

Answer 34

Eyes gritty Bloodshot Painful Watery Swell shut

Question 35

What are symptoms of a cold burn?

Answer 35

Very similar to regular burn