environmental emergencies. heat related injuries cold related injuries bites and stings (insects,...

Environmental Emergencies

• Heat Related Injuries• Cold Related Injuries• Bites and Stings (Insects, Animals, etc)• Poisonous Plants• Weather Related

Environmental Emergencies

• Who’s at risk?• Work Outside• Exercise Outdoors• Elderly• Young• People with prior health issues

Heat Related Illness

Heat Related IllnessHeat Cramps

• Least Severe• First sign that the body is heat stressed• Painful muscle spasms

Heat Related IllnessHeat Cramps

• Move the person to a cool place (shaded)• Give them an electrolyte and carb fluid.• Lightly stretch the muscle that is cramping• DO NOT GIVE SALT TABLETS• When the cramps stop – they can continue activity

Heat Related IllnessHeat Exhaustion

• More severe condition – often affects athletes, firefighters, construction workers and factory workers• Cool, Moist, Pale Skin• Headache• Nausea• Dizziness• Weakness / Exhaustion


• Early Recognition• Be aware of the environment – Is it hot out today?• Move to a cooler area• Remove or loosen clothing and apply cool clothes (towels) to the axillaries• Spray a misting water (cool) or fanning


• IF CONSCIOUS – you can give small amounts of fluid (4 oz or less) at a time• If they refuse water or don’t improve, CALL 911• Place patient in recovery position and monitor ABC’s

Heat Related IllnessHeat Stroke

• Least common – most serious• Usually occurs due to ignoring signs and symptoms of Heat Exhaustion• Extreme high body temp• Red skin (dry or moist)• Changes in LOC• Rapid / Weak Pulse• Shallow Breathing

Heat Related IllnessHeat Stroke

IMMEDIATELY• Rapid cooling – immersion• Cover with bags of ice• Rapid Cooling for no more than 20 minutes – Protect the skin (ice)

Cold Related IllnessFrostbite• Freezing of body parts exposed to cold temps• Can result in loss of limbs• Look for loss of feeling in affected area• Swelling• Skin appears waxy

Cold Related IllnessFrostbite• Cold to the touch• Discolored• Blisters• Black Skin with signs of deep tissue damage

Cold Related IllnessFrostbite• More serious cases (blisters, tissue damage, loss of feeling that can’t be restored, call 911

• Remove wet clothing• NEVER RUB AREA – TISSUE DAMAGE

Cold Related IllnessFrostbite• Gentle soak in warm water (105 or less)• If fingers or toes are involved, place cotton or gauze between them to keep them from rubbing together• Watch for shock conditions

Cold Related IllnessHypothermia• Entire body cools because it can’t keep warm• Will lead to death if not corrected• TEMPERATURE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BELOW FREEZING• Elderly and children are more susceptible.

Cold Related IllnessHypothermia – Some Causes• Intoxication• Circulatory Medical Conditions• Prolonged exposure

Cold Related IllnessHypothermia – What to look for• Shivering• Numbness – Whole body• Glassy stare (shock)• Indifference• LOC

• Shivering that stops without re-warming is DANGER SIGN

Cold Related IllnessHypothermia – What to do• Move to warm place• Remove wet clothing• Put on dry clothing• Use your body heat to help re-warm if nothing else available• Wrap in blankets, plastic sheet• Cover the top of the head

Cold Related IllnessHypothermia – What to do• Be careful when using heat packs, warm water etc. on skin – don’t burn the skin – Use a barrier

• If conscious – give warm liquids, DO NOT GIVE ALCOHOL OR CAFFEINE

Cold Related IllnessHypothermia – What to do• Unconscious – Recovery position and monitor the ABC’s

Heat / Cold Prevention

1. Stay indoors (or in climate controlled area during hottest and coldest parts of the day

2. Alter activity level depending on temp3. Dress appropriately4. Drink large amounts of fluid

Bites & Stings

Bites & Stings

Most bites and stings aren’t serious

• Flies• Bees• Ticks• Fleas• Etc.

Bites & StingsInsect Stings

What to look for: Presence of a stinger Pain Swelling Signals of an allergic reaction

Bites & StingsInsect Stings

What to do: Remove the stinger if possible –

wear gloves Wash the site with soap and water Cover the site and keep clean Apply cold pack to area Call 911 for breathing problems

Bites & StingsTick-Borne Diseases

Rocky Mountain spotted fever Babesia Infection Ehrlichiosis Lyme Disease


Rocky Mountain spotted fever Bacterial infection – mostly in spring

and summer and mostly in children


Rocky Mountain spotted fever Fever Nausea Muscle aches or pain Loss of appetite Severe headaches Rash (Later)

Bites & StingsLyme Diseases

Most prevalent on east coast Spread by Deer Tick and Black-Legged

Tick Usually must remain attached for 36

hours to transmit the disease


What to look for: Small Rash at the site of the bite Center lighter with redder outer

edge Fever Headache Joint / Muscle Pain


Seek medical help if the rash begins to spread away from the site

Bites & StingsRemoving a Tick

Bites & StingsMosquito-Borne Illness

West Nile Virus Passed by mosquito bites Eliminate standing bodies of water Keep stagnant water from

accumulating around the house Signs and Symptoms usually develop

within 3-14 days.

Bites & StingsMosquito-Borne Illness High Fever Headache Neck Stiffness Confusion Coma Convulsions Vision Loss Numbness / Paralysis

Bites & StingsSpider Bites & Scorpion Stings

Bites & Stings

Few spiders in U.S. cause major problems

Black Widow & Brown Recluse can be fatal

Spider Bites & Scorpion Stings

Bites & Stings

Black Widow Black with a reddish hourglass shape

on the underside of it’s body Prefers dark, out-of-the-way places Usually bitten when reaching into

these places


Bites & Stings

Brown Recluse Violin shape on the back portion of

the front segment


Bites & Stings

Scorpion Dry regions – Western / SW U.S. Live under rocks and in the bark of

trees Hard to distinguish poisonous from

non poisonous so suspect them ALL


Bites & Stings

Spider Bite – What to look for Usually don’t know that you have

been bitten unless you see it happen Black Widow Bites:

Rigid muscles in shoulders, chest, back and abs

Anxiety / Dizziness / Headache


Bites & Stings

Black Widow (con’t) Excessive sweating Weakness Drooping Eyelids Swelling at the site of the bite and

expanding


Bites & Stings

Brown Recluse Little pain when bitten Blood-filled blister forms at the site

and looks like a bulls-eye Gets bigger and eventually ruptures,

leading to tissue damage and black scabs


Bites & Stings

Call 911 if… You witness the bite and know it’s a

brown recluse or black widow While you wait…

Wash the wound with water DO NOT TRY TO SUCK THE POISON

OUT Bandage the wound to prevent

infection


Bites & Stings

7000 snake bites each year – around 5 or so are fatal

Rattlesnakes account for most bites and the most deaths in the U.S.

Most deaths are due to allergic reaction

Venomous Snake Bites

Bites & StingsVenomous Snake Bites

Bites & Stings

Call 911 immediately, especially if you don’t know what type of snake bit the victim

Wash the wound Apply an elastic bandage to slow the

venom spread DO NOT SUCK THE POISON


Bites & Stings

DO NOT APPLY ICE DO NOT CUT THE WOUND OPEN DO NOT APPLY A TOURNIQUET DO NOT USE AN ELECTRIC SHOCK


Bites & Stings

Dog bites are common and can be dangerous – infection and bleeding

Don’t get bitten by lions, tigers, bears…that would generally suck as well.

What do you do?

Animal Bites

Bites & Stings

Control bleeding FIRST Do not clean serious wounds – get

medical help If minor bleeding, wash with soap and

warm water Apply antibiotic ointment Watch for infection

Animal Bites

Bites & Stings

Stingray Jellyfish Portuguese Man O’ War

Marine Life Stings

Bites & Stings

Jellyfish stings are the most common Very painful and dangerous if a person

has an allergic reaction to the venom

Marine Life Stings

Bites & Stings

What to do… Get someone to help remove the

person from the water – Lifeguard DO NOT TOUCH THE AFFECTED

AREA – YOU MIGHT GET STUNG AS WELL

Irrigate with large amounts of vinegar

Marine Life Stings

Bites & Stings

What to do… If the sting is from a Portuguese

man-of-war, use ocean water to irrigate rather than vinegar

DON’T RUB THE WOUND Once the sting has stopped, have

the person take a hot shower for at least 20 minutes

Marine Life Stings

Poisonous Plants

Causes an allergic reaction Remove the contaminated clothing Wash the area with soap and water Wash the affected clothing Put a baking-soda paste on the area

several times per day Go to doctor if rash lasts more than

a few days

Poison Ivy

Lightening Causes more death in the U.S. than any

other weather hazard Kills nearly 100 people each year and

injures nearly 300 more. Travels at speeds up to 300 miles /

second 50 million volts of electricity

Lightening Best treatment is prevention

Pick campsites that meet safety precautions

Pay attention to forecasts Plan turn-around time – how long

would it take to get to safety if caught in a storm

Lightening Find quick shelter Cars are best, but get in one that has a

top and windows rolled up Use the 30/30 rule. Lightening visible,

count 1,2,3…if you hear thunder before 30, the lightening is within 6 miles and a SERIOUS THREAT

Lightening If you are caught in the storm, take a

safe position

Lightening If you are caught in the storm…

Take off metal and toss away from your person

Do not lie down, try to make as little contact with the ground as possible

Space yourself away from others

Lightening Injuries…

Unconsciousness Dazed, Confused behavior Trouble breathing No breathing Burn marks on skin, or other open

wounds Muscle, Bone, Joint injuries such as

fractures / dislocations

Lightening

Questions?

I have ADD…I don’t remember what was on the second slide

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environmental emergencies. heat related injuries cold related injuries bites and stings (insects,...

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