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Environmental Emergencies

Environmental Emergencies. Heat & Cold emergencies. Ways the body loses heat (1 of 2). Radiation - heat lost from host to air Convection - heat lost through the movement of air Conduction - heat lost from host to solid objects . Ways the body loses heat (2 of 2).

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Environmental Emergencies

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  1. Environmental Emergencies Heat & Cold emergencies

  2. Ways the body loses heat (1 of 2) • Radiation - heat lost from host to air • Convection - heat lost through the movement of air • Conduction - heat lost from host to solid objects

  3. Ways the body loses heat (2 of 2) • Evaporation - Heat loss through sweating • Respiration - Loss of heat through breathing (warm air out - cool air in)

  4. Hypothermia • Lowering of the body temperature below 95°F (35ºC) • Can develop rapidly or gradually • Weather does not have to be below freezing • Elderly persons, infants and ill or injured are at higher risk.

  5. Shivering Rapid pulse and respirations Red, pale, cyanotic skin Signs and Symptoms of Mild Hypothermia

  6. Shivering stops Muscular activity decreases Lethargy/apathy ALOC Bradycardia & hypotension Dilated pupils Eventually, all muscle activity stops Signs and Symptoms of More Severe Hypothermia

  7. Patient may appear dead (or in a coma). Never assume that a cold, pulseless patient is dead. Core Temperature Less Than 80ºF

  8. medical wisdom • NOT DEAD UNTIL WARM & DEAD!

  9. Treatment for Hypothermia • handle gently • remove from environment • high flow oxygen • warming measures • Ambulance should be heated (86+ degrees) • GOAL IS TO PREVENT FURTHER HEAT LOSS

  10. Frostbite • white, cold, hard, waxy skin • painful or painless • may have blisters or swelling • common locations: feet - hands - nose - ears

  11. Frostbite Tx • remove from cold • high flow O2 • passive rewarming • do not massage • do not break blisters

  12. Heat emergencies • Heat cramps • Heat exhaustion • Heat stroke

  13. Heat cramps • definition = depletion of body salts symptoms • muscle spasms of legs & abdomen • history of exertion with no salt intake

  14. Treatment for heat cramps • remove from environment • PO - isotonic solution (if available)

  15. Heat Exhaustion • definition = dehydration with loss of salt symptoms • cold, moist, ashen skin • thirsty • headache & nausea • weakness, dizziness, syncope

  16. Treatment for Heat Exhaustion • remove patient from environment • loosen clothing • High flow O2 • oral fluids (isotonics or water) • position of comfort • transport

  17. Heat Stroke • definition = failure of body’s cooling mechanism Symptoms • hot, dry, flushed skin • ALOC • hypotensive - tachycardia • seizure

  18. Treatment for Heat Stroke • remove from environment • no oral fluids • high flow oxygen • cooling measures • shock position prn • rapid transport

  19. Water accidents • drowning/near drownings • diving injuries • air embolism • bends or decompression sickness

  20. Near drowning • history of underwater episode • dyspnea • tachypnea • laryngospasms • ALOC • apnea & cyanosis

  21. Treatment for Near Drowning • ABC’s, aggressive suctioning, ventilating with 100% oxygen • C-spine precautions • Rapid transport • Caution: there are delayed complications in near drownings. Always insist on transport even when the patient looks fine.

  22. Air Embolism • caused by holding breath while ascending - air bubbles are forced into blood stream. symptoms • mottled skin • froth at nose/mouth • dizziness, headache • confusion or ALOC • chest pain, dyspnea • pain • neuro deficits • cardiac arrest

  23. Decompression sickness • formation of nitrogen bubbles in blood stream Symptoms • joint pain • abdominal pain • itching • vertigo, nausea ,vomiting

  24. Treatment of Air Embolism and Decompression Sickness • ABC’s • high flow oxygen • left lateral trendelenberg • rapid transport* • consider treatment for hypothermia • Transport to hyperbaric chamber

  25. stop questions???

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