EMS Operations and Environmental Emergencies Flashcards

This set of 293 flashcards provides definitions and concepts based on lecture notes covering environmental emergencies, trauma, multi-casualty incidents, obstetrics, and medical logistics.

Conduction

Heat loss through direct contact such as water chill.

Convection

Heat loss occurs when air or water carry away heat, such as wind chill.

Radiation

Heat is ’picked up’ by surrounding air or water.

Evaporation

Occurs when the body perspires or gets wet.

Respiration

Loss of body heat through exhaled air.

Generalized Hypothermia

Direct exposure to cold that reduces body heat and prevents the body from maintaining proper core temperature.

Predisposing factor: Shock

A condition that makes the body more vulnerable to generalized hypothermia.

Predisposing factor: Hypoglycemia

A condition related to diabetes that can lead to hypothermia.

Subtle exposure factor: Ethanol

Ingestion of alcohol that predisposes a patient to hypothermia.

Subtle exposure factor: Major trauma

A serious injury that can predispose a patient to generalized hypothermia.

Small muscle mass

A characteristic of infants and young children that makes them unable to shiver much and prone to hypothermia.

Numbness

A common assessment finding in hypothermia involving a reduced or lost sense of touch.

Early stage hypothermia symptom

Shivering.

Stiff or rigid posture

A physical sign often seen during the assessment of a hypothermic patient.

Early pulse in hypothermia

Pulse is often rapid in the early stages.

Prolonged hypothermia pulse

Pulse may be slow or absent in prolonged cases.

Cool abdominal skin temperature

A specific physical finding in patients with generalized hypothermia.

Cyanotic skin

Blue skin seen in prolonged cases of hypothermia.

Passive Rewarming

Covering the patient and removing wet clothing.

Active Rewarming

Applying an external heat source to the patient.

Warm liquids

Can be given to a hypothermic patient at a slow rate only if they are alert and responding appropriately.

Extreme Hypothermia heart rate

Heart rate can slow to $10$ beats/minute.

Extreme Hypothermia death rule

’You’re not dead until you’re warm and dead.’

High-concentration oxygen

Recommended for hypothermic patients who are unresponsive, ideally passed through a warm-water humidifier.

Frostnip

An early or superficial local cold injury common in ears, nose, and face.

Frostbite

A late or deep local cold injury where tissues freeze and may form ice crystals.

Active rapid rewarming temperature

Water should be heated between $100\,^{\circ}\text{F}$ and $105\,^{\circ}\text{F}$.

Active rapid rewarming container

A container in which you can immerse the entire site of injury without touching the sides or bottom.

Hyperthermia

Created when heat not needed for temperature maintenance is not lost; left unchecked, it leads to death.

Heat exhaustion

A condition characterized by moist, pale, and normal-to-cool skin.

Heat cramps

Painful muscle cramps brought on by fluid and salt loss during sweating.

Heat stroke

A true emergency where temperature-regulating mechanisms fail and skin is hot, dry, or possibly moist.

Heat exhaustion respirations

Rapid, shallow breathing.

Heat exhaustion pulse

Weak pulse.

Supine position

Recommended position for the care of a patient with moist, pale, and normal or cool skin.

Cool packs

In heat stroke care, these are applied to the neck, groin, and armpits.

Tepid water

Lukewarm water used for cooling infants or young children in heat stroke cases.

Heat stroke pulse

Full, rapid pulse.

Dilated pupils

An assessment finding characteristic of a patient with hot skin/heat stroke.

Dysrhythmias

Irregular heart rhythms that the heart becomes prone to as body temperature decreases.

Drowning

The process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid.

Drowning outcome: Morbidity

A non-fatal outcome defined by the World Health Organization.

Drowning outcome: No morbidity

A non-fatal outcome defined by the World Health Organization.

Reflex spasm of larynx

Triggered during drowning, sealing the airway and resulting in hypoxia.

Water rescue breathing position

Support the non-breathing patient in a semi-supine position.

Arterial gas embolism

Gas bubbles in the bloodstream resulting from a diver holding their breath.

Decompression sickness

Occurs when a diver surfaces too quickly from a deep, prolonged dive.

Decompression sickness onset

Takes $1$ to $48$ hours to appear.

The ‘bends’

Pain in the muscles and joints associated with decompression sickness.

Frothy blood

Bloody discharge in the mouth or nose associated with air embolism symptoms.

Acute mountain sickness

A less serious high-altitude case involving failure to adjust to thinner air, managed with rest and rehydration.

High-altitude cerebral edema (HACE)

A worse form of acute mountain sickness characterized by severe headache, loss of balance, and seizure.

High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE)

A serious condition characterized by shortness of breath, blood-tinged cough, and fever up to $100.4\,^{\circ}\text{F}$. ($38.0\,^{\circ}\text{C}$).

Tachypnea

Rapid breathing often found in patients with HAPE.

Tachycardia

Rapid heart rate often found in patients with HAPE.

Trimester

A three-month period of pregnancy; there are three in total.

Placenta

Organ of maternal and fetal tissues that acts as an exchange area for oxygen, nutrients, and waste.

Umbilical cord

Structure that circulates blood between the mother and fetus, expelled with delivery.

Amniotic sac

Fluid-filled sac that allows the fetus to float, cushions it, and maintains constant temperature.

Cardiac output

Increases throughout pregnancy along with blood volume and heart rate.

Ligament elasticity

Increases due to pregnancy hormones, making them more vulnerable to injury.

Supine Hypotensive Syndrome

Dizziness and drop in blood pressure caused by the fetus compressing the inferior vena cava when the mother is supine.

Combined mass in pregnancy

The placenta, infant, and amniotic fluid total $20$ to $24\,lbs$.

First stage of labor

Starts with regular contractions and ends when the cervix is fully dilated.

Second stage of labor

Stage where the baby enters the birth canal and is born.

Third stage of labor

Begins after the baby is born and ends when the afterbirth is delivered.

Braxton-Hicks contractions

Irregular, non-sustained contractions not indicative of impending delivery.

Lightening

Movement of the fetus from high in the abdomen down toward the birth canal.

Contraction duration

The amount of time a contraction lasts.

Contraction interval

The frequency or time between contractions.

Imminent delivery signs

Contractions last $30$ seconds to $1$ minute and are $2$ to $3$ minutes apart.

Meconium staining

Fluid stained greenish or brownish yellow, indicating potential fetal distress.

Crowning

The appearance of the baby's head at the vaginal opening.

Neonatal Resuscitation risk: Premature

Premature delivery indicates a potential need for resuscitation.

Breech presentation

A history of this finding indicates a need for neonatal resuscitation preparedness.

OB kit

Obstetrics kit positioned near the EMT during assisted delivery.

Amniotic sac puncture

If the sac has not broken during delivery, the EMT uses a finger to puncture the membrane.

Suction priority

Suciton the mouth first, then the nose if necessary.

Bleeding

The most frequent risk for the mother following birth.

APGAR score

A scale based on Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiratory effort that does not guide resuscitation.

Heat retention

A high priority for neonates, involving drying and wrapping the baby.

Infant swaddler

A ‘space blanket’ used to keep the neonate warm.

Clamping the cord (Distance 1)

Apply one clamp about $10$ inches from the baby.

Clamping the cord (Distance 2)

Place a second clamp about $7$ inches from the baby.

Neonatal stimulation time

Dry, warm, and stimulate for $30$ seconds.

Neonate Positive Pressure Ventilation

Provided at a rate of $40$ to $60$ per minute if respirations are shallow, slow, or gasping.

Neonate Chest Compressions

Initiated if heart rate is less than $60$ beats per minute.

Neonate compression rate

$120$ events per minute ($90$ compressions and $30$ ventilations).

Afterbirth

Includes the placenta, umbilical cord, amniotic sac membranes, and tissues lining the uterus.

Uterus massage

Massaging the uterus helps it contract and controls vaginal bleeding after birth.

Limb presentation

When a single limb protrudes from the vagina; cannot be delivered in a prehospital setting.

Prolapsed Umbilical Cord

A life-threatening condition where the cord presents first and is squeezed against the vaginal wall.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Pregnancy outside the uterus; signs include acute abdominal pain on one side and absent menstrual period.

Placenta previa

Placenta blocks the birth canal, potentially causing severe bleeding.

Abruptio placentae

Placenta prematurely separates from the uterine wall, usually caused by trauma.

Preeclampsia signs

Elevated blood pressure and excessive swelling to face, ankles, hands, and feet.

Pregnancy pulse change

Pulse in a pregnant patient is $10$ to $15$ beats per minute faster than nonpregnant women.

Pregnancy blood loss tolerance

$30$ to $35\,\%$ blood loss may occur before signs/symptoms appear in pregnant patients.

Displacing the uterus

A CPR modification for pregnant women whose gestation is more than $20$ weeks.

Cardiac arrest sternum position

Position hands $1$ to $2$ inches higher on the sternum in pregnant patients.