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Heat and Cold Emergencies

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Transport if LOC or symptoms do not clear rapidly. Heat Stroke. Most serious heat-related illness ... Heat Stroke Signs/Symptoms. Body temperature. Hot, dry, ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Heat and Cold Emergencies


1
Heat and Cold Emergencies
  • Temple College
  • EMS Professions

2
Heat/Cold Emergencies
  • Metabolism runs best at 98.6oF
  • T0 - Metabolic rates cell damage
  • T0 - Metabolic rates cell damage

3
Body Temperature Maintenance
  • Balancing Heat
    Production, Heat Loss

4
  • Heat Production
  • Metabolism
  • Movement of Large Muscles
  • Shivering
  • Heat Loss
  • Radiation
  • Conduction
  • Convection
  • Evaporation
  • Respiration

5
  • Heat Production gt Heat Loss Body
    Temperature
  • Heat Loss gt Heat Production Body Temperature

6
Heat/Cold Illness Results from
  • Effects of or body temperature
  • Effects of attempting to compensate for changes
    in heat production, heat loss

7
Heat Illness
8
Heat Cramps
  • Due to salt loss from sweating
  • Spasms in large muscle groups
  • Patient awake, alert

9
Heat Cramps Treatment
  • Stop activity
  • Cool environment
  • Balanced salt solution
  • Do not give salt or water alone

10
  • What would be the effect of giving only water
    without salt to a patient with heat cramps?

11
Heat Exhaustion
  • Sweating Blood volume
  • Vasodilation Vascular volume
  • Both decrease perfusion

12
Heat Exhaustion Signs, Symptoms
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness
  • Faintness
  • Headache
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Pale, cool, moist skin

13
  • Why do the signs/symptoms of heat exhaustion
    resemble the signs/symptoms of shock?

14
Heat Exhaustion Treatment
  • Stop activity
  • Cool environment
  • Lie down, elevate legs
  • Balanced salt solution orally, if not
    nauseated
  • Transport if LOC or symptoms do not clear
    rapidly

15
Heat Stroke
  • Most serious heat-related illness
  • Body temperature gt 106oF
  • Damage occurs to temperature regulating center in
    brainstem
  • Sweating mechanism fails

16
Heat Stroke Types
  • Classic
  • Exertional

17
High Risk Groups Classic Heat Stroke
  • Elderly
  • Chronic medical problems
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Obesity
  • Alcoholism

18
High Risk Groups Exertional Heat Stroke
  • Small children in closed vehicles
  • Athletes, military recruits, construction
    workers, on hot humid days

19
Heat Stroke Signs/Symptoms
  • Body temperature
  • Hot, dry, flushed skin
  • Absence of sweating
  • Altered mental status
  • Confusion, irritability
  • LOC
  • Coma
  • Seizures

20
LOC Hot EnvironmentequalsHeat Strokeuntil
proven otherwise
21
Heat Stroke Treatment
  • High concentration O2
  • Assist ventilations as needed
  • Rapidly cool to 102oF
  • Transport

22
Cold Emergencies
23
Frostbite
  • Localized cold injury
  • Subfreezing temperatures
  • Vasoconstriction occurs
  • Blood flow to distal circulation (nose,
    ears, fingers, toes)
  • Water in tissues freezes tissue damage occurs

24
Frostbite Signs/Symptoms
  • Mild (frost nip) Red, burning areas
  • Superficial White, waxy, doughy-feeling
  • Deep Dead white, hard, no sensation

25
Frostbite Treatment
  • Remove from cold
  • Dry areas gently, wrap in sterile dressing
  • Transport
  • If transport prolonged, rewarm rapidly in
    100-105oF water

26
Frostbite Treatment
  • Do NOT rub frostbite
  • Do NOT allow refreezing
  • Do NOT allow patient to smoke

27
Hypothermia
  • Generalized cooling of body
  • Can occur at temperatures above freezing

28
Hypothermia Risk Groups
  • Homeless
  • Alcoholics
  • Elderly living in poorly heated homes
  • Outdoor sports participants

29
LOC Cool Environment equalsHypothermiauntil
proven otherwise
30
Hypothermia Treatment
  • Support airway, breathing
  • 100 O2--warmed, if possible
  • Prevent further heat loss
  • Do not aggressively rewarm

31
Treatment for Hypothermia
  • Avoid rough handling
  • Transport

32
Hypothermia can cause apparent absence of vital
signs
  • Always resuscitate
  • Youre not dead until youre warm and dead!
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