This is a narrated slide show on Environmental Emergencies by David Gammell with Allina Health EMS

1. Hot or Cold
Welcome to Minnesota
Allina Health EMS

2. • Objectives:
• Explain the four ways the body loses heat
• Describe the signs and symptoms of a patient with:
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Heat exhaustion
Heat stroke
Hypothermia
Drowning
• Explain the appropriate assessment and care for a patient
who is experiencing an environmental emergency
Objectives
Allina Health EMS

3. • Convection
• Lost to surrounding air
• Radiation
• Heat pulled away from body by objects without touching them
• Respiration
• Exhaled air exits the body and takes the heat with it
• Evaporation
• Perspiration moves from liquid to vapor and pulls heat from the
body
• Conduction
• Heat is removed from an object it is touching
Heat Loss
Allina Health EMS

4. Heat Stress
Allina Health EMS

5. • Heat Exhaustion
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Safety/BSI
Perform Primary Survey and ensure ABCs
Remove from heat
Loosen or remove excess clothing
Cool the patient but do not allow shivering
Treatment
Allina Health EMS

6. • Heat Stroke
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Safety/BSI
Perform Primary Survey to ensure ABCs
Rapidly cool the patient
Apply ice packs in arm pits, groin, behind knee and around
ankles
• Provide oxygen as needed
• Monitor vital signs
Treatment
Allina Health EMS

7. Dehydration
Allina Health EMS

8. • Signs and symptoms:
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Altered mental status
Abnormal pulse (First fast then slow)
Lack of coordination
Muscle rigidity
Impaired judgment
Complaints of joint/muscle stiffness
Hypothermia
Allina Health EMS

9. •
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Safety/BSI
Perform Primary Survey and ensure ABCs
Remove from cold environment
Protect from further heat loss
Remove wet clothing and cover with dry warm blankets
Administer oxygen is needed
Monitor vital signs
Do not give anything by mouth
Hypothermia Treatment
Allina Health EMS

10. •
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Any water event
Always suspect spinal injury if unconscious
Airway, Airway, Airway
Ventilation, Ventilation, Ventilation
Drowning
Allina Health EMS

11. • I hope you appreciate the training you have and the EMS
and hospital systems we have
• Watch the first person doing compressions
• Compression only CPR
• Pay attention to the skin color as the arrest progresses
• Title say “Almost” so I think he survives?
Drowning = CPR
Allina Health EMS

12. • Hot or Cold
• Remember:
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Safety and BSI
ABCs and life threats
Mechanism of Injury or Nature of Illness = Spinal
Vital Signs
SAMPLE
Head –to -Toe Exam
Re-assessment
Review
Allina Health EMS

13. Thanks For Your
Time
Allina Health EMS