Environmental and Incident Management

What is frostnip?

• Tissue is cold but not frozen

• Tissue is completely frozen

• Tissue has prolonged exposure to cold water

• Core temperature has dropped below normal

What is frostbite?

• Tissue is cold but not frozen

• Tissue is completely frozen

• Tissue has prolonged exposure to cold water

• Core temperature has dropped below normal

What is Immersion foot or Trench foot?

• Tissue is cold but not frozen

• Tissue is completely frozen

• Tissue has prolonged exposure to cold water

• Core temperature has dropped below normal

What is recommended care for snake bites?

• Apply ice to the injured extremity and transport

• Remain on scene and closely monitor

• Administer antivenin and elevate the extremity

• Place the patient supine, splint injured extremity, and transport

What are common S/S of mild hypothermia?

• Shivering, constricted vessels, and rapid breathing

• Loss of coordination, weak and slow pulse, slow respirations, and lethargy to coma

• Unresponsive, cardiac arrest, and absent respirations

• Lethargy, muscle stiffness, tachycardia, and agonal respirations

What are common S/S of moderate hypothermia?

• Shivering, constricted vessels, and rapid breathing

• Loss of coordination, weak and slow pulse, slow respirations, and lethargy to coma

• Unresponsive, cardiac arrest, and absent respirations

• Lethargy, muscle stiffness, tachycardia, and agonal respirations

What are common S/S of severe hypothermia?

• Shivering, constricted vessels, and rapid breathing

• Loss of coordination, weak and slow pulse, slow respirations, and lethargy to coma

• Unresponsive, cardiac arrest, and absent respirations

• Lethargy, muscle stiffness, tachycardia, and agonal respirations

A patient has been stung by a jellyfish and is now complaining of difficulty breathing, pain to his leg, and dizziness. You find the patient has weak radial pulses and urticaria covering his chest and abdomen. You should...

• Apply ice packs to the area and wrap in a dry, sterile dressing

• Transport immediately and submerge the leg in sterile water

• Remove the tentacles and apply a moist, sterile dressing

• Administer oxygen and an Epi pen, and prepare for rapid transport

Sweating is an effective cooling mechanism because...

• Evaporation cools the skin

• Convection cools the skin

• Radiation cools the skin

• Conduction cools the skin

In order for sweating to be effective...

• Humidity needs to be above 90%

• It must be able to evaporate from the skin

• The body needs to produce 1L of sweat per hour

• Several layers of clothing must be worn