Hot and Cold Emergencies

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Hot and Cold Emergencies
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Body Temperature

• Normal 98.6
• Generate body heat thru TEF conversion of food to
  energy (Your Metabolic Rate!)
• Generate Heat thru muscle contractions
• Normal movement and exercise

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Heat Reduction

• Hypothalamus detects increase in temp of blood
• Vessels near skin dilate and more blood goes to
  surface of skin
• Evaporation of perspiration results in reduction
  in heat or temp of blood
• Cooler blood then goes back to working muscles
  and core to cool things down

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Reaction to Colder Temps

• Opposite happens vessels near surface constrict
  keeping warmed blood in core
• If more heat is needed, muscle contractions or
  shivering begins to generate heat

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Factors Affecting Body Temp

• Air Temperature
• Humidity-
• Prevents evaporation of sweat hence hampers
  cooling mechanism
• Wind
• Wind Chill Factor makes it colder that it is
• Clothing
• Length of exposure
• Hydration level

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Whos At Risk?

• Children
• Elderly
• Those working in hot/cold environments
• Predisposing health problems
• CVD, Diabetes, Cancer treatment, poor circulation
• Previous hot/cold related experience/emergency
• Those taking diuretics

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Heat Cramps/Exhaustion

• Painful spasms of muscles due to deficiencies in
  electrolytes (Potassium, Mg)
• Usually in legs and abdomen
• Can be indication of more severe heat related
  emergency

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Care for Heat Cramps

• Have them stop activity and rest
• Cooler area
• Stretch the muscle and lightly squeeze it
• Hydrate
• water or sports drink
• No salt tablets!
• Watch for signs of developing heat related
  illness!

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Heat Exhaustion

• Most common form
• Occurs after long periods of strenuous activity
  in hot environment
• Bodys temp regulating mechanism is overtaxed and
  not functioning properly
• Sweating leads to decrease in blood volume which
  affects vital organs ability to function
• Systems start to shut down
• What is this called?

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Signs and Symptoms

• Skin changes
• Cool Moist Pale Ashen Flushed
• Headache,
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Exhaustion
• Heavy sweating

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Care for Heat Exhaustion

• Cool the body
• Remove from heat
• Clothing
• Fluids
• REST
• Minimize shock

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Heat Stroke

• Exhaustion can quickly progress to Stroke!
• Dont ignore signals of H. E.!
• When sweating stops, we have a problem!

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Signs and Symptoms

• Red hot dry skin
• Changes in level of consciousness
• Vomiting
• Coma
• Death

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Care for Heat Stroke

• Call 911
• Remove from heat source
• Cool the body!
• Clothing
• Cool cloths to areas near blood flow
• Fluids if Conscious
• Water is best
• less nausea
• more absorbed
• Minimize shock

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Cold Related Emergencies

• Frostbite
• Hypothermia

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Frostbite

• Body tissues freeze
• Water in cells and between freezes
• Ice crystals damage and destroy cells
• Exposure length
• Temperatures
• Wind
• Skin and underlying tissues can be affected
• Permanent damage or loss of appendages

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Signals

• Lack of feeling
• Skin appears waxy
• Skin is discolored
• Flushed, white, blue, yellow

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Care

• Call 911
• Remove restrictions
• clothing jewelry
• Handle area gently
• no rubbing
• Warm skin in tepid water
• if no chance of refreezing
• 100-105
• Loosely bandage sterile dressing
• Between toes and fingers too
• Dont break blisters

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Hypothermia

• Shivering
• Numb
• Glassy stare
• Consciousness altered
• weak

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Care

• 911
• Warm
• Remove wet clothing
• Heat to circulatory areas
• Check LTC
• Warm fluids if conscious
• No alcohol
• No caffiene