FISDAP MEDICAL EMERGENCIES MAIN CORE
ANSWERS AND QUESTIONS SET A+
✔✔hypothermia - ✔✔a condition in which the internal core body temperature falls below
95F, 35C and homeostasis can no longer be maintained.
patients with burns, shock, head injury, stroke, generalized infection, spinal cord
injuries, diabetes, hypoglycemia, are more prone to hypothermia.
Mild hypothermia, 93.2F - 95F: shivering, foot stamping, constricted blood vessels, rapid
breathing, withdrawn LOC,
moderate hypothermia:
89F - 92F: loss of coordination, muscle stiffness, slowing respirations, slow pulse,
confused, lethargic, sleepy
80F - 88F: coma, weak pulse, dysrhythmias, very slow respirations, unresponsive LOC
severe hypothermia: less than 80F: apparent death, cardiac arrest, unresponsive.
never assume a cold, pulseless patient is dead. patients may survive severe
hypothermia if proper emergency care is provided. perform an extended pulse check
(up to a full minute) at carotid or femoral pulse. Do not consider death until aggressive
rewarming and resuscitation is are attempted.
suicidal tendencies may occur in hypothermic patients
✔✔frostbite - ✔✔damage to tissues as the result of exposure to cold; frozen or partially
frozen body parts, often extremities. tissues are actually frozen, permanent cell
damage, can cause necrosis or gangrene (in which dead tissue must be surgically
removed or amputated).
following less severe damage, exposed part will become inflamed, tender to touch, and
unable to tolerate exposure to cold.
, hard, waxy feel of affected tissues, feels firm to frozen, if only skin deep: leathery/thick
but not hard.
deep injury that has thawed or partially thawed may be red or white, or mottled and
cyanotic.
determine duration of exposure, temperature of exposure, wind velocity during
exposure, moisture, circulation, etc.
blood is shunted from extremities during hypothermia.
frostnip: when just the skin freezes (often ears, nose, fingers) but underlying tissues are
unharmed.
immersion foot: prolonged exposure to cold water: skin becomes pale, cold to touch,
wrinkled, loss of feeling and sensation in injured area.
✔✔patient assessment - ✔✔ABCs
rapid assessment
palpate pulse (carotid) for 60 seconds. start CPR if no detectable pulse or breathing.
assume shock
move the patient from the cold environment, package for transport. be gentle (don't
cause the cold heart to fibrillate). protect the patient from further heat loss.
history.
secondary assessment: vitals, severity of hypothermia, rapid decreases in body temp,
full body assessment
reassess every 5 minutes, rewarming can lead to release of built up chemical and
cause harmful effects, including dysrhythmias. provide O2 if indicated, remove
frozen/wet clothing.
document all.
✔✔treatment of cold emergencies - ✔✔move patient from the cold environment to
prevent further heat loss.
do not allow the patient to walk
ANSWERS AND QUESTIONS SET A+
✔✔hypothermia - ✔✔a condition in which the internal core body temperature falls below
95F, 35C and homeostasis can no longer be maintained.
patients with burns, shock, head injury, stroke, generalized infection, spinal cord
injuries, diabetes, hypoglycemia, are more prone to hypothermia.
Mild hypothermia, 93.2F - 95F: shivering, foot stamping, constricted blood vessels, rapid
breathing, withdrawn LOC,
moderate hypothermia:
89F - 92F: loss of coordination, muscle stiffness, slowing respirations, slow pulse,
confused, lethargic, sleepy
80F - 88F: coma, weak pulse, dysrhythmias, very slow respirations, unresponsive LOC
severe hypothermia: less than 80F: apparent death, cardiac arrest, unresponsive.
never assume a cold, pulseless patient is dead. patients may survive severe
hypothermia if proper emergency care is provided. perform an extended pulse check
(up to a full minute) at carotid or femoral pulse. Do not consider death until aggressive
rewarming and resuscitation is are attempted.
suicidal tendencies may occur in hypothermic patients
✔✔frostbite - ✔✔damage to tissues as the result of exposure to cold; frozen or partially
frozen body parts, often extremities. tissues are actually frozen, permanent cell
damage, can cause necrosis or gangrene (in which dead tissue must be surgically
removed or amputated).
following less severe damage, exposed part will become inflamed, tender to touch, and
unable to tolerate exposure to cold.
, hard, waxy feel of affected tissues, feels firm to frozen, if only skin deep: leathery/thick
but not hard.
deep injury that has thawed or partially thawed may be red or white, or mottled and
cyanotic.
determine duration of exposure, temperature of exposure, wind velocity during
exposure, moisture, circulation, etc.
blood is shunted from extremities during hypothermia.
frostnip: when just the skin freezes (often ears, nose, fingers) but underlying tissues are
unharmed.
immersion foot: prolonged exposure to cold water: skin becomes pale, cold to touch,
wrinkled, loss of feeling and sensation in injured area.
✔✔patient assessment - ✔✔ABCs
rapid assessment
palpate pulse (carotid) for 60 seconds. start CPR if no detectable pulse or breathing.
assume shock
move the patient from the cold environment, package for transport. be gentle (don't
cause the cold heart to fibrillate). protect the patient from further heat loss.
history.
secondary assessment: vitals, severity of hypothermia, rapid decreases in body temp,
full body assessment
reassess every 5 minutes, rewarming can lead to release of built up chemical and
cause harmful effects, including dysrhythmias. provide O2 if indicated, remove
frozen/wet clothing.
document all.
✔✔treatment of cold emergencies - ✔✔move patient from the cold environment to
prevent further heat loss.
do not allow the patient to walk
