Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies AHC South Region EMS

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies AHC South Region EMS - Quarterly CE - 2009

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Hypothermia is a condition in which an organism's temperature drops below that required for normal metabolismm and bodily functions. In warmblooded animals, core body temperature is maintained near a constant level through biologic homeostasis. But, when the body is exposed to cold, its internal mechanisms may be unable to replenish the heat that is being lost to the organism's surroundings.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Mechanisms of Heat Loss

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Heat Loss Through Conduction

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Conduction – is defined as the transfer of heat from a warmer object to a cooler object when the two object are in direct contact with each other. A common source of conductive heat loss is out of the feet via soles of your footwear on cold ground. Conduction is also a major source of heat loss in wet clothing, due water’s excellent conductive properties.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Heat Loss Through Convection

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Convection – Convective heat loss occurs in response to movement of a fluid or gas. In outdoor clothing systems, convective heat loss occurs when warm air next to the body and in the clothing is displaced by cool air from the outside environment. The biggest factor contributing to convective heat loss, of course, is wind.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Heat Loss From Radiation

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Radiation – Radiative heat loss from the human body occurs primarily due to infrared emission. Radiative heat loss occurs primarily on cold, clear nights, and is readily noticeable after sunset. Cloud cover dampens the effects of radiative heat loss somewhat, by reflecting a significant portion of radiant heat back to the earth’s surface. - A person wearing proper cold weather clothing should not expierience a significant amount of radiative heat loss unless he is thinly clothed.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Heat Loss from Evaporation

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Evaporation – Evaporation occurs when a liquid (such as sweat) changes phase to a vapor (sweat vapor). This phase change requires heat. Unfortunately, your body heat drives this phase change. Evaporative heat loss may be most noticeable in context of the “flash-off” effect, which occurs after a period of intense physical activity and sweating in cold conditions, followed by rapid evaporation and chill after stopping to rest.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Heat Loss from Respiration

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Respiration – Technically, respiration combines the processes of evaporation (of moisture in the lungs) and convection (displacement of warm air in the lungs by cold air from the outside environment). Significant moisture (and thus, body heat) can be lost when that moist air is exchanged with much drier outside air. In addition, some body heat is lost to the process of warming the cold air entering your lungs

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Stages of Hypothermia & Treatment of Hypothermia

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Mild Hypothermia 90 - 95 degrees F - PT complains of feeling cold. - More time than not the PT is wet. - PT is shivering to some extent. - Loss of interest in anything other than getting warm and PT is often angry and agitated. - Problems may begin to develop with PT’s muscular coordination, beginning with fine motor tasks.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Mild Hypothermia - Protect from further cooling and re - warm by any convenient means. - Wet clothing MUST be removed. - Heat packs should be placed at points of least insulation.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Moderate Hypothermia 86 – 89 degrees F - Severe Shivering in attempts to re – warm the body. Slowing respirations. Drowsiness. PT’s heart rate may begin to slow.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Moderate Hypothermia - Prevent further heat loss. Remove wet clothing. Cover with blankets. IV with warm NS. EKG.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Severe Hypothermia 86 degrees F or lower - ALOC A conscious PT will have no decision making skills. No willingness to survive. Will drift in and out of consciousness until lapsing into a coma. Shivering stops. Pulses are weak and extremely hard to find. Breath may become fruity do to incomplete metabolism.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Severe Hypothermia - Prevent further heat loss. Remove wet clothing and cover with blankets. Secure Airway and assist with ventilations. AVOID ROUGH HANDLING OF PT. – if victim is moved suddenly after long - EKG and IV with warm NS Do not give IV drugs to PT unless body temperature is > 86 degrees F or ordered by Med Control. If rhythm is V-Fib/pulseless VT Defib x 1. - periods of inactivity, the heart pumps cold blood from the body back into the heart causing Ventricular Fibrillation ( V – Fib).

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Near Death - Profound Hypothermia can mimic death. - Some victims of sever hypothermia have been pronounced dead before they really were. - An ECG may be required to determine if there is heart activity. - “PT’s are not dead until they’re warm and dead. ”

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Local Cold Injury

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Chilblains - Caused by chronic exposure to damp, nonfreezing ambient temperatures. - Painful, inflammatory lesions on skin. - Hands, ears, lower legs, and feet are most common sites. Treatment - Re warm, bandage, and elevate.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Trench Foot - Caused by prolonged skin exposure to cool, wet conditions. - Skin becomes pale, mottled, and anesthetic. - In late stages, sloughing and gangrene may occur. Treatment Clean, warm affected area, wrap in dry bandages, and elevate.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Frostnip - Non freezing injury to the skin. - Extremity appears pale and PT may feel discomfort. - Tissue loss does not occur. Treatment - Local re warming.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Frostbite - Destruction of body tissues due freezing. Ice crystals form in the tissues and breaks apart cells. Four degrees of frostbite. 1 st Degree - Partial skin freezing. Redness, mild edema, and lack of blisters. 2 nd Degree - Full thickness freezing, substantial edema, and formation of clear blisters.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies 3 rd Degree - Full thickness skin and subcutaneous freezing, hemorrhagic blisters, skin necrosis, and bluish-grey discoloration. 4 th Degree - Full thickness damage affecting muscles, tendons, and bones; little edema, affected areas may initially be mottled or cyanotic, eventually will turn dry, black, and mummified.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Treatment - Move PT into warm environment. Protect affected extremity and handle skin gently. Do not rub. Do not thaw area if if there is a chance of refreezing. Cover affected extremities with warm blankets. Anticipate severe pain when re warming partial thickness frostbite. - Consider ALS transport for pain management if there is delayed or extended transport times.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Scenario 1 You are dispatched for a Snowmobile accident with two patients. You are told be dispatch that the person who called 911 heard snowmobiles go past her house and then heard a loud crash. It is 2130 Hrs, the Air Temp is 22 Degrees F, and it is Snowing.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies This is what you find upon your arrival and you have two patients both conscious lying on the ground. Both are wearing helmets. What kind of injuries can you expect? How do you treat them? What other considerations regarding the scene should you have?

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Scenario 2 You are dispatched on a Life Safety Box Alarm to Geneva Lakes Cold Storage Warehouse in Darien. The Occupancy had a storage rack collapse on approximately 8 employees. You arrive on scene and find the Fire Dept extricating your victim. The FD asks your unit to begin care on your PT while they finish freeing your PT. The PT was working on a fork lift when the collapse happened. The Temperature inside the warehouse is – 25 degrees F. The PT is wearing appropriate clothing. He has been trapped for about and hour.

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies What Type of Injuries? Scene Considerations? How do you treat injuries? Appropriate PPE? Mode of Transport?

Environmental Emergencies Cold Emergencies Questions? ?