FMST 205 Hypothermia

Question 1

What are the risk factors for hypothermia?

Answer 1

Fatigue, Age, nutrition, training, experience, race, dehydration, medication, tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, environment, and activities.

Question 2

What are chilblains (Pernio)?

Answer 2

Small skin lesions that are itchy, tender, appears red or purple and occurs when the surface of the skin is exposed to chronic cold.

Question 3

What causes chilblains?

Answer 3

Cold causes constriction of the small arteries and veins.

Question 4

How would you treat chilblains?

Answer 4

Gradually re-warm, wash and dry, apply dry and soft sterile bandages.

Question 5

What is Snow Blindness (Solar Keratitis)?

Answer 5

Ultraviolet burns to the skin and eyes from exposure of bright reflection of snow and dry air.

Question 6

What are some of the signs and symptoms of Snow Blindness?

Answer 6

Excessive tearing, pain, redness, swollen eyes lids, headaches etc…

Question 7

What are some of the treatments for Snow Blindness?

Answer 7

Sunglasses or patching the eye, oral analgesics, tacevac.

Question 8

What are frostbites?

Answer 8

Freezing of tissue fluids in the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Skin freezes at 28F or below.

Question 9

Explain 1st degree frostbite?

Answer 9

An epidermal injury limited to skin, skin appears white or yellow, no blisters or tissue lost. Thaws quickly, feels numb and appears red. Healing occurs in 7-10 days.

Question 10

Explain 2nd degree frostbites?

Answer 10

Involves all epidermis and superficial dermis. Feels stiff but gives way to pressure. Contains clear or milky fluid, surrounded by erythema and edema. No loss of tissue, healing occurs in 3-4 weeks.

Question 11

Explain 3rd degree frostbites?

Answer 11

Involves epidermis and dermis, after thawing, skin will have blood blisters. Slow loss of skin and healing is slow.

Question 12

Explain 4th degree frostbites?

Answer 12

Full thickness through dermis with muscle and bones. No mobility, passive movement after thawing. No blisters but see early signs of necrotic tissue. Auto amputation.

Question 13

What are treatments for superficial frostbites?

Answer 13

1st and 2nd. Placed affected area against warm body surface

Question 14

How would you treat deep frostbite?

Answer 14

3rd and 4th.
Move to shelter, thaw in warm water, cover with loose, dry sterile dressing. Separate fingers and toe with cotton. Provide pain meds, start IV 250ml boils warm saline. TACEVAC ASAP.

Question 15

What should you not do when treating frostbites?

Answer 15

Rewarm if possibilities of re-freezing, drain blister, using ointment, rub in snow, give alcohol, walking on injury, use heat greater than 102F.

Question 16

What are some preventive measures for cold injuries?

Answer 16

Education, activity levels, buddy system, personal measures.

Question 17

What is COLD?

Answer 17

C: Clean
O: Overheating
L: Layering
D: Dry

Question 18

What are some of the hypothermia equipment used?

Answer 18

ready heat blanket, heat reflective shell, hpmk, blizzard survival blanket, fluid warmers.

Question 19

What is the lethal triad?

Answer 19

Coagulopathy, Acidosis, hypothermia.

Question 20

What is hypothermia?

Answer 20

A condition where your core temperature is below 95F.

Question 21

What is mild hypothermia?

Answer 21

When body temperature is 97-93F. And body will be shivering as a mechanism to generate heat

Question 22

What is moderate hypothermia?

Answer 22

When your body temperature is 93-86F. LOC will be greatly decreased.

Question 23

What is severe hypothermia?

Answer 23

When the body temperature is below 86F. They are unconscious, and vital signs are undetectable.