Podcast
Questions and Answers
What should you do after reaching a patient found floating face-down in the water?
What should you do after reaching a patient found floating face-down in the water?
Move him as a unit to a supine position.
During transport of a frostbitten patient, what should you do?
During transport of a frostbitten patient, what should you do?
Protect the affected part from further injury.
How does high air temperature affect the body's ability to lose heat?
How does high air temperature affect the body's ability to lose heat?
Reduces the body's ability to lose heat by radiation.
What is the body's natural cooling mechanism when sweat is converted to gas?
What is the body's natural cooling mechanism when sweat is converted to gas?
What should you do for an apneic patient with a slow, weak pulse after being submerged in water?
What should you do for an apneic patient with a slow, weak pulse after being submerged in water?
What is an early sign of pit viper envenomation?
What is an early sign of pit viper envenomation?
What should you do for an unresponsive patient found after a lightning strike?
What should you do for an unresponsive patient found after a lightning strike?
What happens during a lightning strike?
What happens during a lightning strike?
What is the term for the transfer of heat to circulating air?
What is the term for the transfer of heat to circulating air?
Which medication increases a person's risk of a heat-related emergency?
Which medication increases a person's risk of a heat-related emergency?
The venom of a black widow spider is toxic to which system?
The venom of a black widow spider is toxic to which system?
How can hypothermia worsen internal bleeding?
How can hypothermia worsen internal bleeding?
What does a dysbarism injury refer to?
What does a dysbarism injury refer to?
Where should you assess a patient's general temperature?
Where should you assess a patient's general temperature?
What distinguishes a black widow spider from a brown recluse spider?
What distinguishes a black widow spider from a brown recluse spider?
What is the specific treatment for a jellyfish sting?
What is the specific treatment for a jellyfish sting?
Burns associated with lightning strikes are typically what type?
Burns associated with lightning strikes are typically what type?
What are the two MOST efficient ways for the body to eliminate excess heat?
What are the two MOST efficient ways for the body to eliminate excess heat?
What should you assess for in an unconscious 30-year-old male in a 30°F environment?
What should you assess for in an unconscious 30-year-old male in a 30°F environment?
What is drowning MOST accurately defined as?
What is drowning MOST accurately defined as?
What should you suspect in a young female with a rash after a camping trip?
What should you suspect in a young female with a rash after a camping trip?
When does an air embolism associated with diving occur?
When does an air embolism associated with diving occur?
What is the MOST prominent symptom of decompression sickness?
What is the MOST prominent symptom of decompression sickness?
How can a frostbitten foot be identified?
How can a frostbitten foot be identified?
For sweating to be an effective cooling mechanism, it must be able to:
For sweating to be an effective cooling mechanism, it must be able to:
What should you do for a 16-year-old male who fainted in high heat?
What should you do for a 16-year-old male who fainted in high heat?
When does heatstroke occur?
When does heatstroke occur?
What is the MOST prominent symptom of decompression sickness?
What is the MOST prominent symptom of decompression sickness?
What are signs of late heatstroke?
What are signs of late heatstroke?
What should you do for a patient who was bitten by a snake and shows minimal distress?
What should you do for a patient who was bitten by a snake and shows minimal distress?
How does high humidity affect the body's ability to lose heat?
How does high humidity affect the body's ability to lose heat?
Which condition is LEAST likely to increase a person's risk of hypothermia?
Which condition is LEAST likely to increase a person's risk of hypothermia?
Heat loss from the body through respiration occurs when?
Heat loss from the body through respiration occurs when?
Why are geriatric patients at a higher risk for heatstroke?
Why are geriatric patients at a higher risk for heatstroke?
What may rough handling of a hypothermic patient with a pulse cause?
What may rough handling of a hypothermic patient with a pulse cause?
What does the venom of a brown recluse spider cause?
What does the venom of a brown recluse spider cause?
Covering a patient's _________ will significantly minimize radiation heat loss.
Covering a patient's _________ will significantly minimize radiation heat loss.
What should you do for a patient who fainted in high humidity conditions?
What should you do for a patient who fainted in high humidity conditions?
What steps should you take for a diver with difficulty breathing after rapid ascent?
What steps should you take for a diver with difficulty breathing after rapid ascent?
What should you do after reaching a patient found floating face-down in the water?
What should you do after reaching a patient found floating face-down in the water?
What can the diving reflex allow a person to do during cold water submersion?
What can the diving reflex allow a person to do during cold water submersion?
At what body temperature is a person's ability to shiver lost?
At what body temperature is a person's ability to shiver lost?
What should you do for a patient with a core body temperature of 93.4°F?
What should you do for a patient with a core body temperature of 93.4°F?
When must the EMT assume any unwitnessed water-related incident has?
When must the EMT assume any unwitnessed water-related incident has?
What should you do for a 53-year-old diabetic male found confused after mowing the lawn in heat?
What should you do for a 53-year-old diabetic male found confused after mowing the lawn in heat?
What does the body lose when it loses sweat?
What does the body lose when it loses sweat?
What are the body's natural protective mechanisms against heat loss?
What are the body's natural protective mechanisms against heat loss?
Which of the following would be the LEAST likely to occur at a core body temperature of 89°F to 92°F?
Which of the following would be the LEAST likely to occur at a core body temperature of 89°F to 92°F?
What happens when a warm hand is immersed in water that is 70°F?
What happens when a warm hand is immersed in water that is 70°F?
What is a common response in patients with a core body temperature of 95°F?
What is a common response in patients with a core body temperature of 95°F?
What makes rescue breathing difficult when drowning?
What makes rescue breathing difficult when drowning?
Hypothermia occurs when core body temperature falls below:
Hypothermia occurs when core body temperature falls below:
What symptoms should you expect in a patient experiencing decompression sickness?
What symptoms should you expect in a patient experiencing decompression sickness?
Which condition is NOT a symptom of an air embolism?
Which condition is NOT a symptom of an air embolism?
Study Notes
Water Emergencies
- When rescuing a submerged patient, move them as a unit to a supine position to avoid spinal injury.
- Recognize that drowning can lead to death from suffocation after submersion.
- Signs and symptoms of air embolism include difficulty breathing, cyanosis, and frothy discharge from the mouth after rapid ascent.
Frostbite and Heat-Related Emergencies
- Frostbite is indicated by mottling and blistering of the affected area.
- Protect frostbitten extremities and maintain stable vitals during transport, which may last up to 45 minutes.
- Heatstroke arises when the body's heat-eliminating mechanisms are overwhelmed, with prominent symptoms including rapid breathing and weak, rapid pulse.
- High humidity hinders heat loss through evaporation.
Temperature Regulation
- The body eliminates excess heat primarily through sweating and skin blood vessel dilation.
- Convection occurs when cool air moves across the body's surface, aiding in heat loss.
- Evaporation is the cooling mechanism through which sweat is transformed into gas.
Snake and Spider Bites
- Pit viper envenomation presents early with local swelling and bruising.
- Black widow spider venom targets the nervous system, while brown recluse venom causes severe local tissue damage.
Hypothermia and Decompression Sickness
- Hypothermia is defined by core body temperature falling below 90°F (32°C), leading to shivering and potential changes in consciousness.
- Decompression sickness typically presents with abdominal or joint pain, often after divers ascend too quickly.
Patient Assessment and Care
- Always assess a patient's carotid pulse for up to 45 seconds if unconscious and pale, especially in cold conditions.
- Implement cooling interventions rapidly in heat-related illnesses, monitoring vital signs continuously.
- For jellyfish stings, irrigate the wound with vinegar and immerse in hot water for pain relief.
General Considerations
- Any unwitnessed water incident should raise suspicion of possible spinal injuries.
- Geriatric patients are at greater risk for heat injuries due to reduced skin circulation.
- Electrolytes are lost along with sweat, impacting hydration and muscle function.
Lightning Strikes
- Victims of lightning strikes may initially experience asystole but can stabilize spontaneously.
- Always assess for signs of cardiac compromise and initiate CPR if necessary.
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Description
This quiz covers critical concepts in managing water emergencies, such as rescuing submerged victims and recognizing signs of air embolism. Additionally, it addresses frostbite and heat-related emergencies, including symptoms of heatstroke and the body's temperature regulation mechanisms. Test your knowledge on these essential emergency response topics.
