Thermal Injuries Flashcards
(68 cards)
What are the risk factors of cold injuries?
- lack of insulating body fat
- old age
- homelessness
- drug and alcohol use
- cardiac disease
- psychiatric illness
- motor vehicle problems
- inadequate clothing
- smoking in combination w/cold exposure
- endocrine conditions
- diabetes
- SCIs
What area of the brain controls heat conservation?
The hypothalamus
Does ___ cause peripheral and visceral vasoconstriction?
a) parasympathetic activity
b) sympathetic activity
b) sympathetic activity
Who is at risk of developing frostbite?
- military personnel
- athletes using cryotherapy or participation in outdoor sports
What is superficial frost bite?
skin and subcutaneous tissue affected that when rewarmed, develops clear blisters
What is deep frostbite?
Affects bones, jones, and tendons where the skin remains white until thawed and when rewarmed, the skin forms hemorrhagic blisters.
T or F: Deep frostbite is more common on the face, ears, and extremities
False - that is superficial frostbite. Deep is on hands and feet
What are the favorable prognostic factors for frostbite?
- retained sensation
- normal skin color
- clear fluid in blisters (not cloudy)
What are negative prognostic factors for frostbite?
- non-blanching cyanosis
- firm skin and dark
- fluid-filled blisters
What are the functions of the epidermis?
- protection, insulation, cosmesis
- immune response
- keratinocytes and melanocyte synthesis
What are the functions of the dermis?
- thermoregulation
- mechanical protection
- hair folicles
- conservation of fluids, electrolytes, and proteins
What is the function of the subcutaneous layer
- Energy storage
- trauma protection
What is the Zone of coagulation
The tissue that is destroyed at the time of injury
What is the zone of stasis
It surrounds the zone of coagulation with inflammation and low levels of perfusion
What is the zone of hyperemia
The zone where microvascular perfusion is not impaired although it may appear red
Which zone becomes necrotic within 48 hours following injury resulting in an expansion of the burn
Zone of stasis
What are the symptoms of a thermal burn?
- red, blistered, or peeling skin
- pain
- shock (clammy skin, weakness, bluish lips/fingernails, and dec. alertness)
- edema
- white/charred skin
When should you suspect a chemical burn?
If an otherwise healthy person becomes ill for no apparent reason (and works in an environment chemicals could be present//you find chemical containers in the area)
What are the symptoms of a chemical burn?
- Red/bluish skin and lips
- breathing difficulty
- convulsions or seizures
- dizziness and headache
- skin changes (hives, itching, swelling, N/V)
- unconsciousness
- abdominal pain
T or F: an electric burn may be more severe than it appears
True
What are the 3 methods that an electrical burn causes injury by?
1 - CA due to electrical effect on heart
2 - massive muscle destruction from current thru body
3 - thermal burns from contact w/electrical source
What are the symptoms of electrical burns
- fatigue
- fractures
- H/A and unconsciousness
- hearing impairment/vision loss
- heart attack
- hyperventilation and respiratory failure
- loss of reflex control
- muscle contraction and muscular pain
- skin burns
Which type of current is more dangerous and why?
AC current bc the patient becomes frozen and can’t withdraw
What are potential complications from electrical burns
- compartment syndrome
- cardiac arrhythmias
- renal failure
- sepsis
- neurological damage
- hemorrhage
- cataracts
