Heat & Cold InjuriesHeat & Cold Injuries

Generalized Cold Generalized Cold EmergenciesEmergencies

Heat loss methods include:Heat loss methods include:– Conduction Conduction – Convection Convection – Evaporation Evaporation – Respiration Respiration

Cold Weather InjuryCold Weather Injury

HypothermiaHypothermia– Early stageEarly stage– Later stage Later stage

FrostbiteFrostbite– Early stageEarly stage– Later stageLater stage

Predisposing factors of Predisposing factors of hypothermiahypothermia

Injuries Injuries Chronic illness Chronic illness Shock Shock Burns Burns Head and spinal cord injuries Head and spinal cord injuries Generalized infection Generalized infection Diabetes Diabetes Unconscious patient Unconscious patient Aged people Aged people

S & SS & S

Shivering in early stages Shivering in early stages Reduced sensation Reduced sensation Stiff or rigid posture Stiff or rigid posture Drowsiness Drowsiness Rapid breathing and rapid pulseRapid breathing and rapid pulse Loss of motor coordination Loss of motor coordination Joint \ muscle stiffness Joint \ muscle stiffness Decreased level of consciousness Decreased level of consciousness Red skin appearance Red skin appearance

Emergency Medical Care Emergency Medical Care

Passive rewarming Passive rewarming Active rewarming Active rewarming

Patient Care – Alert Patient Care – Alert

Remove all wet clothing Remove all wet clothing Actively rewarm patient Actively rewarm patient Care for shock, give oxygen Care for shock, give oxygen Warm liquids slowly Warm liquids slowly Transport patient to hosp. except in Transport patient to hosp. except in

mild cases mild cases

Patient Care – UnresponsivePatient Care – Unresponsive

Assure open airway Assure open airway High oxygen concentration High oxygen concentration Warm patient in blankets Warm patient in blankets Transport immediately Transport immediately

Patent Care – Extreme Patent Care – Extreme HypothermiaHypothermia

Assess carotid pulse Assess carotid pulse Continue as unresponsive patient Continue as unresponsive patient

Localized Cold InjuriesLocalized Cold Injuries

S & S include:S & S include:– Red skin dark skin Red skin dark skin

whiten whiten – Skin numbness Skin numbness

Patient Care – Early Patient Care – Early (superficial) (superficial)

Get patient out of cold environment Get patient out of cold environment Warm affected area Warm affected area Splint & cover extremity Splint & cover extremity Do nor rub or message Do nor rub or message

Frostbite Frostbite

S & S: Waxy, white skin gray blue S & S: Waxy, white skin gray blue swelling and blistering swelling and blistering

Rx: high O2 concentration, transport, Rx: high O2 concentration, transport, warmingwarming

Heat InjuriesHeat Injuries

Patient with Moist, Pale, Normal to Patient with Moist, Pale, Normal to Cool Skin Cool Skin

Patient with Hot and Dry or Moist Patient with Hot and Dry or Moist Skin Skin

Progression of Heat InjuriesProgression of Heat Injuries

Heat CrampsHeat Cramps Heat ExhaustionHeat Exhaustion Heat StrokeHeat Stroke

Patient with Moist, Pale, Patient with Moist, Pale, Normal to Cool Skin / S & SNormal to Cool Skin / S & S

Muscle cramps (legs, abdomen) Muscle cramps (legs, abdomen) Weakness or Exhaustion Weakness or Exhaustion Dizziness or faintness Dizziness or faintness Rapid shallow breathing Rapid shallow breathing Weak pulse Weak pulse Heavy perspiration Heavy perspiration Loss of consciousness Loss of consciousness

Patient with Moist, Pale, Patient with Moist, Pale, Normal to Cool Skin / CareNormal to Cool Skin / Care

Remove from hot environment Remove from hot environment Administer Oxygen Administer Oxygen Loosen or remove clothes Loosen or remove clothes Supine position with elevated legs (rest) Supine position with elevated legs (rest) Small sips of water (conscious) Small sips of water (conscious) Apply moist towel over cramped areas Apply moist towel over cramped areas Transport Transport

Patient with Hot and Dry or Patient with Hot and Dry or Moist Skin / S & SMoist Skin / S & S

Rapid shallow breathing Rapid shallow breathing Full and rapid pulse Full and rapid pulse Generalized weakness Generalized weakness Little or no perspiration Little or no perspiration Altered mental state (loss of Altered mental state (loss of

consciousness) consciousness) Dilated pupils Dilated pupils Seizures present but no cramps Seizures present but no cramps

Patient with Hot and Dry or Patient with Hot and Dry or Moist Skin / Care Moist Skin / Care

Remove patient from hot Remove patient from hot environment environment

Remove clothing Remove clothing Administer Oxygen Administer Oxygen Transport immediately Transport immediately

Prevention of cold weather & Prevention of cold weather & heat injuriesheat injuries

Think of the acronym COLDThink of the acronym COLD C-Clean clothesC-Clean clothes O-Avoid OverheatingO-Avoid Overheating L-Loose Layers of clothingL-Loose Layers of clothing D-Keep DryD-Keep Dry

Change your socks