Chapter 24 Enviromental Emergencies

Front 1

Active rewarming

Back 1

Technique of aggressively applying external sources of heat to a patient to rewarm his body

Front 2

Conduction

Back 2

Transfer of heat through direct physical touch with nearby objects

Front 3

Convection

Back 3

Loss of body heat to the atmosphere when air passes over the body

Front 4

Evaporation

Back 4

Conversion of a liquid or solid into a gas, evaporation of sweat is a means by which the body is cooled

Front 5

Generalized hypothermia

Back 5

An overall reduction in body temperature, affecting the entire body also called hyperthermia or generalized cold emergency

Front 6

Hyperthermia

Back 6

Abnormally High Core body temperature, core body temperature above the normal 37 degrees Celsius and 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit

Front 7

Hypothermia

Back 7

Abnormally low core body temperature, core body temperature under 35 degrees Celsius and 95 degrees Fahrenheit also see generalized hypothermia

Front 8

Local cold injury

Back 8

Damage to tissues in a specific part of the body resulting from exposure to cold

Front 9

Myxedema Coma

Back 9

A life-threatening late complication of hypothyroidism that may be precipitated by exposure to cold temperatures as well as to illness, infection, trauma, or certain drugs.

Front 10

Passive Rewarming

Back 10

The use of the patient's own heat production and conservation mechanisms to rewarm him, for example, simply placing the patient in a warm environment and covering him with blankets

Front 11

Radiation

Back 11

Transfer of heat from the surface of one object to the surface of another without physical contact between the objects

Front 12

Respiration

Back 12

the exchange of gases between an organism and its environment, the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that takes place during inhalation exhalation

Front 13

Thermoreceptor

Back 13

A sensory receptor that is stimulated by temperature

Front 14

Urban Hypothermia

Back 14

Hyperthermia precipitated by Cold environments such as with persons who live on the streets in the cold weather or whose indoor environment is too cold

Front 15

Water Chill

Back 15

The increase rate of cooling in the presence of water or wet clothing

Front 16

Wind chill

Back 16

The combined cooling effect of wind speed and environmental temperature

Front 17

What, in the brain, controls and monitors temperatire?

Back 17

Hypothalamus

Front 18

What are the two input receptors?

Back 18

(1) the central thermoreceptors, which are located on or near the anterior hypothalamus

(2) the peripheral thermoreceptors, found in the skin and the mucous membranes.

Front 19

What is thermal gradient?

Back 19

Transfer of heat or cold

Front 20

How is heat produced?

Back 20

Metabolism

Front 21

When does shivering stop?

Back 21

When the body core temperature drops below 90 degrees F and 32 degrees C

Front 22

How is heat conserved?

Back 22

Vasodilation and sending warm blood to the surface of the skin to internal organs

Front 23

What 3 organ systems primarily responsible for cooling the body and reducing the body core temp.?

Back 23

(1) the skin

(2) the cardiovascular system

(3) the respiratory system

Front 24

What 5 mechanisms do heat loss occur?

Back 24

Radiation, convection, conduction, evaporation, and respiration

Front 25

What is the most significant mechanism of heat loss?

Back 25

Radiation

Front 26

What are the two kinds of emergencies that exposure to cold can cause?

Back 26

Generalized hypothermia and local cold injury

Front 27

What is the most life-threatening cold injury?

Back 27

Generalized Hypothermia (because it affects the entire body)

Front 28

What is thermal comtrol?

Back 28

The ability of the body to regulate temperature

Front 29

When does coma occur in hypothermia?

Back 29

It occurs when the body's core temperature reaches approximately 79 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius)

Front 30

What are the predisposing factors of hypothermia?

Back 30

Ambient temperature, wind chill, and moisture; Age; Medical Condition; Alcohol, drugs, and poisons; Duration of exposure; Clothing; and Activity level

Front 31

What are the stages of hypothermia?

Back 31

Mild 36 to 33°C & 95 to 91.4°F

Moderate 32 to 29°C & 89.6 to 85.2°F

Severe 28 to 22°C & 82.4 to 71.6°F

Profound 20 to 9°C & 68 to 48.2°F

Front 32

What is Immersion Hypothermia?

Back 32

Immersion Hyperthermia occurs as a result of the lowering of the body temperature from immersion in cool or cold water.

Front 33

What is Myxedema Coma?

Back 33

It is a complication that occurs late in the progression of hypothermia and can be fatal. It is most common in the elderly women.

Front 34

What are the stages of local cold injury?

Back 34

Early or superficial cold injury and Late or deep cold injury

Front 35

What is in early stage local cold injury?

Back 35

It usually involves the tips of the ears, the nose, the Chipmunks, the tips of the toes or fingers, and the chain. The patient is usually unaware of the injury.

Front 36

What is in the late stage of local cold injury?

Back 36

It involves both the skin and the tissue beneath it. The skin itself is white and waxy and appearance. The injury may involve the whole hand or foot. Swelling and blisters filled with clear or straw-colored fluid may be present.

Front 37

What is the emergency medical care for generalized hypothermia?

Back 37

Preventing further heat loss, rewarding the patient, and staying alert for complocations.

Front 38

What is the least serious form of heat related injuries?

Back 38

Heat Cramp

Front 39

What is heat exhaustion?

Back 39

Extreme physical exertion in a hot, humid environment can affect even an otherwise for individual.

Front 40

Heat stroke

Back 40

This is a life threatening m3dical emergency with a mortality ranging from 20 to 80 percent. It occurs when the body's heat-regulating mechanisms break down and become unable to cool the body sufficiently

Front 41

What are some predisposing factors of Hyperthermia?

Back 41

Climate, exercise and strenuous activity, age, per-existing illness, certaim drugs and medication, and lack of acclimation.

Front 42

Page 697

Back 42

To page 700

Front 43

What can you use to determine if the snake is venomous?

Back 43

Large fangs, elliptacle pupils, a pit between the eye and mouth, blotches and background, and a triangular head that is larger than it's neck

Front 44

How can you determine the severity of the snakebite?

Back 44

Location, pathogens, patients size and weight, patients general health and condition, physical activity engaged in after bite.

Front 45

What are symptoms of a black widow spider bite?

Back 45

A pin prick sensation at the bright side, becoming a dull ache within about 30 minutes, severe muscle spasms, especially in the shoulders, back chest and abdomen rigid board like abdomen dizziness nausea and vomiting and respiratory distress in severe cases.

Front 46

What are the different types of lightning strikes?

Back 46

Direct strike, contact strike, Splash or side flash strike, and ground current or step voltage strike.

Front 47

What is direct strike?

Back 47

Lightning bolt makes direct contact with the patient.

Front 48

What is contact strike?

Back 48

Lightning strikes an object the patient is in contact with.

Front 49

What is Splash shoreside flash strike?

Back 49

Lightning strikes an object and jumps to a nearby person.

Front 50

What is ground current or step voltage strike?

Back 50

Lightning current energizes the ground.

Front 51

What systems get affected by lightning?

Back 51

Nervous system, cardiac system, respiratory system, skin, musculoskeletal,ophthalmic (eyes), and otologic (ear)

Front 52

What is high altitude sickness?

Back 52

At high altitudes, the pressure of the Ambien atmosphere is decreased. As a consequence, the total pressure of oxygen is also decreased, making oxygen less available.

Front 53

What are General signs and symptoms of altitude sickness?

Back 53

General ill-feeling, loss of appetite, headache, disturbance in sleep, and respiratory distress upon exertion

Front 54

What is acute Mountain sickness?

Back 54

Acute Mountain sickness typically occurs in people who rapidly ass into 6600 ft or greater.

Front 55

What are the signs and symptoms for acute Mountain sickness?

Back 55

Weakness, nausea, headache, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, loss of appetite, fatigue, difficulty sleeping

Front 56

What are some severe signs and symptoms of acute Mountain sickness?

Back 56

Severe weakness, decreased urine output, vomiting, increase shortness of breath, and altered mental status

Front 57

Acute Mountain sickness

Back 57

Signs and symptoms could develop from 6 to 24 hours after the ascent. Acute Mountain illness will often resolve itself within 1 to 2 days at the patient does not descend any higher.

Front 58

What is high altitude pulmonary edema?

Back 58

It is a condition affecting the lungs and gas exchange.

Front 59

What are some signs and symptoms of a high altitude pulmonary edema?

Back 59

Shortness of breath at rest, cough, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, tachypnea, tachycardia, cyanosis, crackles or wheezing, and weakness

Front 60

What is high altitude cerebral edema?

Back 60

High altitude cerebral edema occurs from the collection of an excessive amount of fluid in the brain tissue.

Front 61

What are the signs and symptoms of high altitude cerebral edema?

Back 61

Severe headache, on coordination, nausea and vomiting, altered mental status, seizures, and coma