heat stroke
This environmental emergency is defined by a core body temperature typically greater than 104°F (40°C) accompanied by altered mental status.
What is heat stroke?
This heat-related illness is characterized by heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, and normal mental status.
What is heat exhaustion?
This term describes an abnormally elevated body temperature caused by the body's inability to dissipate heat effectively.
What is hyperthermia?
This is the primary cause of cardiac arrest in drowning victims.
What is hypoxia?
This is the most common immediate cause of death in a lightning strike victim.
What is cardiac arrest?
This is the most important prehospital treatment for heat stroke and should begin as soon as possible.
What is rapid cooling?
Unlike heat stroke, patients with heat exhaustion typically maintain this neurological finding.
What is a normal mental status (or alert and oriented mental status)?
These two major categories of heat stroke fall under the umbrella of severe hyperthermia
What are exertional heat stroke and classic (non-exertional) heat stroke?
For a drowning patient with a pulse but not breathing, this intervention takes priority
What is providing ventilations with a BVM and oxygen?
In a mass-casualty lightning incident, victims who appear pulseless and apneic may be treated first using this unique triage principle.
What is reverse triage?
This organ system is often the first to show signs of heat stroke through confusion, agitation, seizures, or coma.
What is the central nervous system?
This common cause of heat exhaustion occurs when fluid and electrolyte losses are not adequately replaced.
What is dehydration?
This population is at particularly high risk for hyperthermia during heat waves due to impaired thermoregulation and chronic medical conditions.
Who are the elderly? extra credit ....boomers
This complication can develop hours after a drowning incident and requires continued medical evaluation even if the patient initially appears well.
What is respiratory distress from aspiration or pulmonary edema?
This heart rhythm disturbance can occur after a lightning strike and should be monitored for during transport.
What are cardiac dysrhythmias (arrhythmias)?
Contrary to popular belief, this symptom may be present or absent in exertional heat stroke.
What is sweating?
These are two key prehospital treatments for heat exhaustion.
What are cooling the patient and replacing fluids?
This body system is often affected early in severe hyperthermia, resulting in confusion, agitation, seizures, or coma.
What is the central nervous system
During the primary assessment of a drowning victim, EMS providers should focus first on these three priorities.
What are airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs)?
These injuries may occur when a lightning strike causes a victim to be thrown or fall, resulting in secondary trauma.
What are blunt-force or traumatic injuries?
this potentially life-threatening condition can result from muscle breakdown during severe heat stroke.
What is rhabdomyolysis?
Heat exhaustion can progress to this life-threatening heat emergency if not recognized and treated promptly.
What is heat stroke?
When treating a patient with severe hyperthermia, EMS should prioritize this intervention to prevent organ damage and death.
What is rapid cooling?
This condition should be anticipated and treated in drowning patients, especially after prolonged exposure to cold water.
What is hypothermia?
A lightning strike victim is unconscious and not breathing but has no obvious burns. EMS should immediately begin this life-saving intervention.
What is CPR and ventilatory support?