Environmental Emergencies Flashcards
(107 cards)
introduction
- medical emergencies can result from environmental factors
- certain populations are at higher risk:
- children- higher BSA/weight ratio
- older people- thinner skin
- people with chronic illnesses
- young adults who overexert themsevles
introduction
- environmental emergencies include:
- heat-and cold-related emergencies
- water emergencies
- pressure related injures- ascending or descending
- injuries caused by lightening
- envenomation
physical condition
-patients who are ill or in poor physical condition will not tolerate extreme temperatures well
age
-infants, children, and older adults are more likely to experience temperature related illnesses
nutrition and hydration
- a lack of food or water will aggravate hot or cold stress
- alcohol will change the bodys ability to regulate temperature
environmental conditions
- conditions that can complicate environmental situations:
- air temperature
- humidity level
- wind
- extremes in temperature and humidity are not needed to produce injuries
- most hypothermia occurs at temperature between 30-50
- most heat stroke occurs when the temperature is 80 and the humidity is 80%
- examine the environmental temperature of your patient
cold exposure
- cold exposure may cause injury to:
- feet
- hands
- ears
- nose
- whole body (hypothermia)
- there are five ways the body can lose heat
- falling and being stuck on the floor -> you lose heat to the ground overtime
conduction
- direct transfer of heat from a part of the body to a colder object by direct contact
- heat can also be gained if the substance being touched is warm
convection
- transfer of heat to circulating air
- when cool air moves across the body
evaporation
- conversion of any liquid to gas
- natural mechanism by which sweating cools the body
- when you run out of sweat (dehydration) you over heat
radiation
- transfer of heat by radiant energy
- heat loss caused when a person stands in a cold room
respiration
- loss of body heat during normal breathing
- warm air in the lungs is exhaled into the atmosphere and cooler air is inhaled
- if air temperature is above body temperature and individual can gain heat
the rate and amount of heat loss or gain by the body can be modified in 3 ways:
- increase or decrease in heat production
- move to an area where heat loss can be decreased or increased
- wear the appropriate clothing for the environment
-hypothermia
- normal- 98.6
- core temperature falls below 95 (35C)
- body loses the ability to regulate its temperature and generate body heat
- eventually, key organs such as the heart begin to slow down and mental status deteriorates
- can lead to death
- air temperature does not have to be below freezing for it to occur
- can develop quickly or gradually
people at risk for hypothermia
- homeless people and those whose homes lack heating
- swimmers- wet -> lose body heat to the water faster than air
- geriatric, pediatric, and ill individuals (circulatory issues)
mild hypothermia
- occurs when the core temperature is between 90-95 (32-35)
- patient is usually alert and shivering
- pulse rate and respirations are rapid
- skin may appear red, pale, or cyanotic
more severe hypothermia
- occurs when the core temperature is less than 90 (32)
- shivering stops- circulation is going more towards core -> vasoconstriction
- muscular activity decreases
- as core temperature drops to 85
- patients becomes lethargic and stops fighting the cold
- may show impaired judgement
- stroke mimic
- cardiac dysrhythmias -> ventricular fibrillation
local cold injuries
- most injuries from cold are confined to exposed parts of the body:
- extremities (especially feet and hands)
- ears
- nose
- face
important factors in determining the severity of a local cold injury
- duration of the exposure
- temperature to which the body part was exposed
- wind velocity during exposure
you should also investigate underlying factors for local cold injuries
- exposure to wet conditions
- inadequate insulation from cold or wind
- restricted circulation from tight clothing or shoes or circulatory disease
- fatigue
- poor nutrition
- underlying factors:
- alcohol or drug abuse
- hypothermia
- diabetes
- cardiovascular disease
- age
frostnip
- after prolonged exposure to the cold, skin may freeze while deeper tissues are unaffected
- usually affects the ear, nose, and fingers
- usually not painful, so the patients often is unaware that a cold injury has occurred
immersion foot
- occurs after prolonged exposure to cold water
- common in hikers and hunter
- pale, wrinkly
frostnip and immersion foot: signs and symptoms
- skin is pale and cold to the touch
- normal color does not return after palpation of the skin
- the skin of the foot may be wrinkled but can also remain soft
- the patient reports loss of feeling and sensation in the injured area
frostbite
- most serious local cold injury because the tissue are actually frozen
- gangrene requires surgical removal of dead tissue