Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following correctly characterizes hypothermia?
Which of the following correctly characterizes hypothermia?
Which predisposing factor does NOT contribute to the risk of hypothermia?
Which predisposing factor does NOT contribute to the risk of hypothermia?
What is one sign of generalized hypothermia related to breathing patterns?
What is one sign of generalized hypothermia related to breathing patterns?
Which symptom is least likely to be observed in a patient experiencing hypothermia?
Which symptom is least likely to be observed in a patient experiencing hypothermia?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of these describes a symptom indicating severe hypothermia?
Which of these describes a symptom indicating severe hypothermia?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the first step in managing a patient with generalized hyperthermia and hot, dry skin?
What is the first step in managing a patient with generalized hyperthermia and hot, dry skin?
Signup and view all the answers
Which body areas should be prioritized for applying cool packs in hyperthermia management?
Which body areas should be prioritized for applying cool packs in hyperthermia management?
Signup and view all the answers
What action is not recommended when treating gastric distention in a patient who requires artificial ventilation?
What action is not recommended when treating gastric distention in a patient who requires artificial ventilation?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be done if a drowning patient is found pulseless and apneic after submersion in cold water?
What should be done if a drowning patient is found pulseless and apneic after submersion in cold water?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key step to ensure airway management during emergency care for drowning?
What is a key step to ensure airway management during emergency care for drowning?
Signup and view all the answers
In case of a drowning incident, when should you not attempt to relieve gastric distention?
In case of a drowning incident, when should you not attempt to relieve gastric distention?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be done to cool a patient experiencing hyperthermia in terms of skin management?
What should be done to cool a patient experiencing hyperthermia in terms of skin management?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following should be avoided in hyperthermia management?
Which of the following should be avoided in hyperthermia management?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a symptom associated with bites and stings?
Which of the following is NOT a symptom associated with bites and stings?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the recommended method for removing a stinger after a wasp sting?
What is the recommended method for removing a stinger after a wasp sting?
Signup and view all the answers
In the case of a snakebite, which of the following actions is NOT advised?
In the case of a snakebite, which of the following actions is NOT advised?
Signup and view all the answers
Which symptom would most likely indicate a systemic reaction to a wasp sting?
Which symptom would most likely indicate a systemic reaction to a wasp sting?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be done first if a patient is stung and a stinger is present?
What should be done first if a patient is stung and a stinger is present?
Signup and view all the answers
Which sign indicates a potential hyperthermia condition?
Which sign indicates a potential hyperthermia condition?
Signup and view all the answers
How should a person experiencing drowning or near-drowning be treated?
How should a person experiencing drowning or near-drowning be treated?
Signup and view all the answers
Which is the primary goal in patient resuscitation?
Which is the primary goal in patient resuscitation?
Signup and view all the answers
In emergency medical care, what is the primary risk of using tweezers on a stinger?
In emergency medical care, what is the primary risk of using tweezers on a stinger?
Signup and view all the answers
Which condition can occur due to excessive exposure to heat?
Which condition can occur due to excessive exposure to heat?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a primary sign of hyperthermia?
What is a primary sign of hyperthermia?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a correct emergency procedure for a patient experiencing near drowning?
Which of the following is a correct emergency procedure for a patient experiencing near drowning?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the process of vasodilatation help the body achieve during heat exposure?
What does the process of vasodilatation help the body achieve during heat exposure?
Signup and view all the answers
Which method constitutes a form of heat loss through radiation?
Which method constitutes a form of heat loss through radiation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an initial sign indicating the need for resuscitation in drowning cases?
What is an initial sign indicating the need for resuscitation in drowning cases?
Signup and view all the answers
Which term describes the transfer of heat directly from one object to another?
Which term describes the transfer of heat directly from one object to another?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one of the major factors leading to heat loss through respiration?
What is one of the major factors leading to heat loss through respiration?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a physiological response to rising body temperature?
Which of the following is NOT a physiological response to rising body temperature?
Signup and view all the answers
What body response assists in minimizing heat loss under cooling conditions?
What body response assists in minimizing heat loss under cooling conditions?
Signup and view all the answers
How does the body primarily lose heat when perspiration occurs?
How does the body primarily lose heat when perspiration occurs?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a crucial action to take if a patient with generalized hypothermia is alert and responsive?
What is a crucial action to take if a patient with generalized hypothermia is alert and responsive?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a sign of generalized hyperthermia?
Which of the following is a sign of generalized hyperthermia?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be avoided when treating local cold injuries?
What should be avoided when treating local cold injuries?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the appropriate rewarming process for a local cold injury if transportation is delayed?
What is the appropriate rewarming process for a local cold injury if transportation is delayed?
Signup and view all the answers
How long should pulses be assessed before initiating CPR in a case of generalized hypothermia?
How long should pulses be assessed before initiating CPR in a case of generalized hypothermia?
Signup and view all the answers
In which situation should passive rewarming be implemented for a patient with generalized hypothermia?
In which situation should passive rewarming be implemented for a patient with generalized hypothermia?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one of the primary dangers of hyperthermia?
What is one of the primary dangers of hyperthermia?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following symptoms is associated with local cold injuries?
Which of the following symptoms is associated with local cold injuries?
Signup and view all the answers
What should NOT be done when caring for a patient with local cold injuries?
What should NOT be done when caring for a patient with local cold injuries?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following conditions increases the risk of hyperthermia?
Which of the following conditions increases the risk of hyperthermia?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Environmental Emergencies
- Environmental emergencies include a wide range of situations, affecting temperature regulation, drowning, bites & stings.
Overview
- Thermoregulatory Emergencies: Body temperature regulation, exposure to heat and cold are key categories.
- Drowning and Near Drowning: Emergency medical care for near-drowning patients is crucial.
- Bites and Stings: Signs, symptoms, and emergency medical care for bites and stings are included.
Thermoregulatory Emergencies
- Any emergency that causes a change in body temperature.
Temperature Regulation in the Body
- Maintaining a nearly constant internal body temperature is vital for efficient bodily functions.
- Changes in body temperature lead to profound effects on vital chemical processes, potentially life-threatening.
- The body maintains internal temperature by balancing heat production and heat loss, using systems like peripheral vasoconstriction, shivering (heat production), vasodilation and perspiration (heat loss).
Temperature Regulation in the Body-Types of Heat Loss
- Conduction: Direct transfer of heat from one object to another.
- Convection: Heat transfer to moving air or liquid.
- Evaporation: Heat transfer when liquid changes to gas (like sweating).
- Radiation: Loss of heat as infrared energy to cooler surroundings.
- Respiration: Heat loss from breathing.
Exposure to Cold
- Hypothermia: Condition where body temperature falls below normal. Normal body temperature = 98.6°F (37°C).
- Predisposing Factors: Cold environments, immersion in water, advanced age or youth, alcohol use, shock, head or spinal injury, burns, generalized infection, diabetes, hypoglycemia, medications or poisons.
Exposure to Cold-Signs & Symptoms of Generalized Hypothermia
- Decreasing mental and motor function, correlates with the extent of hypothermia.
- Poor coordination, memory disturbances.
- Reduced/loss of sensation to touch.
- Mood changes, less communicative.
- Dizziness, speech difficulty, poor judgment
- Patient may remove clothing.
- Stiff or rigid posture, muscular rigidity, shivering (may be absent).
- Complaints of joint/muscle stiffness
- Breathing variations: early rapid breathing, late shallow or absent breathing.
- Slowly responding pupils
- Pulse: early rapid, late slow and barely palpable, irregularly or absent
- Low to absent blood pressure
- Skin: early red, then pale, then cyanotic (blue-gray).
- Stiff/hard skin
Exposure to Cold-Focused History
- Source of exposure
- Environmental conditions
- Loss of consciousness
- General or localized effects
Exposure to Cold-Emergency Care for Generalized Hypothermia
- Protect the patient from further heat loss.
- Remove the patient from the cold environment.
- Remove wet clothing & cover with a blanket.
- Handle the patient gently; avoid rough handling.
- Do not let the patient walk or exert themselves.
- Administer warmed and humidified oxygen.
- Monitor for a pulse (30-45 seconds) before starting CPR.
- Actively or passively rewarm if alert; use warm blankets, heat packs or hot water bottles in the groin, axilla, and cervical regions.
- Heat up the ambulance compartment.
- Prohibit the patient from eating or drinking stimulants.
- Do not massage extremities.
Exposure to Cold-Local Cold Injuries
- Can damage extremities and other tissues.
- Result from reduced blood flow or freezing.
- Gradual progression of injury; deeper freezing means more damage.
- Most common in fingers, toes, ears, nose, and face.
- Predisposing Factors: Past cold injury damages the blood vessels, making the area more susceptible. Smoking constricts blood vessels in extremities.
Exposure to Cold-Local Cold Injuries-Signs & Symptoms
- Early/superficial injury: pale skin, delayed capillary refill, loss of feeling/sensation, skin still soft, tingling when rewarmed.
- Late/deep injury: white/waxy skin, firm/frozen feeling on palpation, swelling, blisters, loss of sensation, skin may appear flushed with purple, pale, mottled, or cyanotic areas.
Exposure to Cold-Emergency Care for Local Cold Injuries
- Remove patient from the cold environment.
- Protect the cold extremity from further damage; do not allow unnecessary contact.
- Administer oxygen.
- Remove wet/restrictive clothing & jewelery.
- Splint the extremity; cover with dry, sterile dressings.
- Actions to avoid: re-exposing the area to cold; breaking blisters; rubbing/massaging the area; applying heat/rewarming; allowing patient to walk on affected extremities.
- If prolonged transport, rapidly rewarm: immerse injured area in warm water (102-104°F/38-39°C); continuously add warm water & stir; immerse until skin is soft & sensation is restored. Do not rub dry; pat gently. Dress with dry, sterile dressings, place dressings between fingers/toes. Protect from further freezing.
Exposure to Heat
- Hyperthermia: Internal body temperature rises above normal.
Exposure to Heat-Predisposing Factors
- Hot, humid weather; vigorous activity; elderly; infants and newborns; heart disease; dehydration; obesity; previous history of hyperthermia; fever; fatigue; diabetes, drugs, medications.
Exposure to Heat-Signs & Symptoms of Generalized Hyperthermia
- Muscle cramps, weakness/exhaustion, dizziness/fainting, rapid/pounding heart beat, altered mental status.
- Moist, pale, cool, or normal skin, nausea; vomitting, abdominal cramps, hot skin
Exposure to Heat-Emergency Care
- For patients with moist, pale, cool or normal skin: move patient to cool environment, administer oxygen, remove clothing, or loosen clothing, cool patient by fanning, place patient in head low position, if unconscious and vomiting, position in left lateral position.
- For patients with hot, dry skin: remove patient from heat to a cool environment, apply cool packs to neck, groin, armpits; keep skin wet by using water, a sponge or wet towels; fan aggressively; transport immediately.
Drowning and Near Drowning
- Drowning: death from water immersion (or any other liquid).
- Near Drowning: survival after water immersion.
Emergency Care for Drowning and Near Drowning
- Immobilize the spine if trauma is suspected.
- Ensure an adequate airway
- Provide oxygen and ventilate if necessary.
- Provide external chest compressions if the patient is pulseless.
- Suction as needed.
- If gastric distention interferes with artificial ventilation, place the patient on their left side. With suction available to relieve the distention.
- Do not attempt to relieve gastric distention unless it interferes with artificial ventilation (a significant risk of aspiration).
- Some patients can survive very long submersion periods in cold water.
- All pulseless, apneic patients experiencing cold water submersion should be resuscitated.
Bites and Stings
- Signs and Symptoms: history of bite/sting, pain, redness, swelling, weakness, dizziness, chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, bite marks, stinger
- Emergency Medical Care: remove stinger (scrape with edge of card, not tweezers); wash area gently; remove jewelry if swelling is imminent; place injection site below the heart; do not apply cold; seek medical direction concerning constricting bands; monitor for allergic reactions; treat as needed
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
