Assessment
What is the first intervention for a patient with suspected cold-related illness?
What is remove the patient from the cold environment.
What procedure should be established during active warming?
What is vascular access.
What skin finding is common in hypothermia?
What is cold, clammy skin.
What infectious process can mimic hypothermia?
What is sepsis.
Which patients are more prone to cold emergencies?
What is Pediatric and Geriatric patients.
What assessment helps determine the severity of hypothermia?
What is obtaining a temperature.
What is the initial fluid bolus for non-traumatic shock?
What is 500 mL IV/IO.
What heart rate abnormality is common in hypothermia?
What is bradycardia.
What metabolic emergency should always be considered?
What is Hypoglycemia.
Where should hot packs be placed during active warming?
What is the armpits and groin.
What should never be done to warm frostbitten tissue?
What is rubbing the skin.
What must be avoided after thawing frostbitten tissue?
What is allowing it to refreeze.
What is one of the earliest physiologic responses to cold exposure?
What is shivering.
What traumatic condition can present similarly to hypothermia?
What is a head injury.
Where should hot packs never be placed?
What is directly on the skin.
What warming technique should begin immediately for most cold-exposed patients?
What is Passive Warming.
What is the maximum amount of fluid recommended in this protocol?
What is 2L.
What neurological finding may occur in severe hypothermia?
What is AMS or Coma.
What neurological emergency is part of the differential diagnosis?
What is stroke.
If you are unable to get a temperature on the patient, what should you expect?
What is the patient has hypothermia.
What must be avoided after thawing frostbitten tissue?
What is allowing the tissue to refreeze.
Which IV fluids are recommended.
What is Normal saline and Lactated Ringer's.
What circulatory finding may develop in advanced hypothermia?
What is hypotension of shock.
What serious traumatic injury belongs in the differential diagnosis?
What is a spinal cord injury.
What important vital sign should be recorded and documented whenever possible?
What is the patient's temperature.