Heat Cold Emergencies

Which of the following people would be least likely to experience a heat-related illness?

• A 55-year-old woman who has diabetes

• A 78-year-old man who has heart disease

• A 6-month-old infant who was born prematurely

• A 30-year-old man who is slightly overweight

High humidity reduces the body’s ability to:

• produce sweat.

• cool itself by radiation.

• lose body heat by shivering.

• lose heat through evaporation.

Common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include all of the following, except:

• flushed, dry skin.

• lightheadedness.

• profuse sweating.

• nausea and dizziness.

Which of the following may occur with heatstroke, but not with heat exhaustion?

• A normal body temperature

• A pulse that is slow and bounding

• Severe irritability or hyperactivity

• A body temperature as high as 104°F (40°C)

A patient who is suffering from heatstroke:

• usually has skin that is hot and moist.

• may be semiconscious or unconscious.

• requires gradual cooling of his or her body.

• usually experiences permanent brain damage.

Rescue personnel have found a 44-year-old man who was lost in the woods for 24 hours. The ambient temperature is 30°F (–1°C), and it is sleeting. Your assessment reveals that the patient is semiconscious and is not shivering. In addition to maintaining airway, breathing, and circulation, you should:

• give him hot soup or coffee to drink.

• place warm blankets under and over him.

• raise his body temperature with heat packs.

• apply an AED in case cardiac arrest occurs.

As hypothermia progresses, the:

• pulse rate increases.

• patient stops shivering.

• respirations increase.

• patient becomes agitated.

In general, a hypothermic patient should not be considered dead until:

• his or her body temperature is raised above 85°F (29°C).

• muscle stiffness occurs and a pulse is absent.

• he or she is rewarmed at an appropriate hospital.

• CPR has been performed for at least 10 minutes.

What part of the body is least susceptible to frostbite?

• Ears

• Nose

• Chest

• Fingers

You are providing initial care to a patient who you believe has heatstroke. The patient, a 33-year-old woman, is semiconscious and has flushed, hot, dry skin. After moving her to a cooler environment and maintaining airway, breathing, and circulation, you should:

• remove her clothes to the underwear and begin rapid cooling measures.

• apply chemical ice packs to her chest and abdominal areas and reassess.

• place her in the recovery position and monitor her until paramedics arrive.

• give her small amounts of cool water to drink and obtain a set of vital signs.