emergency care and cold weather emergency

emergency care management system is made of

police, firemen, medical personnel, you

who gives care and transport at the scene

EMS

what increases chance of survival

early arrival

unusual noises

screaming, crying, car screeching

unusual odors

burning, gas, foul odor, strong odor

unusual sights

smoke, blood, someone unconsciousness

barriers to act

fear of doing something wrong, unsure of person's condition, type of injury, fear of catching disease, fear of being sued

only move the person if

their life is in danger

what to say when dialing 911

patient location, the phone number you're calling from and your name, a description of what happened, the number of people who need help

true or false: a patient has the legal right to deny care

true

what to say to the patient

who you are, your training level, what you think is wrong with them, what you plan on doing

when to seek professional care

life threatening, condition can get worse on the way to the hospital, they need EMS equipment

stop giving care when...

qualified takes over, you get too tired, scene becomes unsafe, they are safe to go

informed consent

the patient is consciousness and can make a rational decision

implied consent

the patient is unresponsive with a life threatening condition

what to do when they refuse help

inform them of their condition, call 911 and wait for them to arrive

abandonment

once you responded you must stay

negligence

duty to act, breach duty, cause injury/damage, exceed your level of training, not following standard of care

good samaritan laws

acting during an emergency, acting in good faith, don't accept compensation, no malicious acts or gross negligence

check for:

spilled chemicals, fire, down electrical lines, smoke, extreme weather

call first if:

collapsed unconscious, unconscious with heart problems

care first if:

any unconscious child under 12

have someone else make the call if

person is injured

call 911 if

environmental problem

care guidelines

no harm, monitor breathing and consciousness, help them get in the most comfortable position, maintain warmth, reassure, give specific care as needed

what causes body heat loss

radiation and respiration

what conserves body heat

vasoconstriction, shivering

who is most susceptible to cold injury

skinny people, older adults, dehydrated, alcoholics, drug users

chillblain

itchy red patches and blistering due to inflammation of blood vessels; repeated exposure to cold

trenchfoot

feet are wet for long periods of time

frostbite

obstructs blood flow caused by extreme cold

if theres frostbite don't use

heating pad, heating lamp, stove, fireplace

treat frostbite

body heat, warm water

treat trenchfoot

air dry feet, apply warmness, change out shoes and socks

hypothermia

abnormally low body temperature

hypothermia temperature

below 95F

treat hypothermia

warm center of the body, if severe start CPR

prevent hypothermia

limit time outdoors, dress in layers, wear hats, wear socks, keep moving

risk factors for hypothermia

inadequate clothes, food, heating, people who remain outdoors a lot, alcoholics and drug users

conduction

direct contact with a cold object

convection

loss of heat from the body by air blowing

windchill

combined effect of ambient temperature and wind speed

evaportion

conversion of liquid from the skin into vapor

radiation

warm object gives off heat to cooler air

primary method of heat loss

radiation

respiration

you inhale cold air, warm it with your body, and lose heat when exhaling

acute exposure

6 hours or less

subacute exposure

6 to 24 hours

chronic exposure

over 24 hours