Heat and cold emergencies, drowning, envenomation, and altitude illness presentations and field management.
35 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What is the definition of heat cramps?
- Painful muscle spasms caused by heavy exertion and fluid/electrolyte loss in a hot environment.
- What is the hallmark skin finding of heat exhaustion?
- Pale, cool, and clammy (moist) skin.
- What is the hallmark skin finding of heat stroke?
- Hot skin, which may be dry or moist.
- The single most important sign that distinguishes heat stroke from heat exhaustion is ____.
- altered mental status
- What is the field treatment for heat exhaustion in a fully alert patient?
- Move to a cool place, remove excess clothing, and give oral fluids.
- What is the immediate priority treatment for heat stroke?
- Aggressive cooling as quickly as possible.
- Why should an EMT-B avoid giving oral fluids to a heat emergency patient with altered mental status or nausea?
- Risk of vomiting and aspiration.
- What core body temperature is generally associated with heat stroke?
- Above 104 F (40 C).
- What position should a heat emergency patient with a normal mental status be placed in for transport?
- Supine with legs slightly elevated.
- Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature below ____.
- 95 F (35 C)
- What are early (mild) signs of hypothermia?
- Shivering, cold skin, and clumsiness or slurred speech.
- What finding suggests a patient has progressed from mild to severe hypothermia?
- Shivering stops and mental status significantly decreases.
- Why must a severely hypothermic patient be handled gently and moved with minimal jostling?
- Rough handling can trigger a fatal cardiac dysrhythmia, such as ventricular fibrillation.
- What is the recommended field treatment for a hypothermic patient?
- Remove wet clothing, insulate and passively rewarm, and handle the patient gently.
- What is 'afterdrop' in hypothermia management?
- A continued drop in core temperature after rewarming begins, as cold blood from the extremities returns to the core.