Vital signS temperature & pain

temperature Core body temperature is regulated by the hypothalamus in the brain Normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius)

Increasing body temperature Heat is produced as we burn calories from food If calories fail to produce enough heat, the hypothalamus will compensate for the lack of heat by sending a message(through the nerves) to the muscle to create shivering and causing the blood vessels to constrict so the body can retain heat Shivering produces heat Blood vessels constricting retains heat The process heats the body and maintains homeostasis

Decreasing body temperature If the body produces too much heat (exercise) the sweat glands are stimulated to release heat and blood vessels are stimulated to dilate to promote heat dissipation The process decreases body temperature and maintains homeostasis

Measuring body temperature When measuring body temperature the value obtained may differ, depending on the measurement site Common ways to measure body temperature are: Oral: Under tongue Thermometer is place under patients tongue Tympanic membrane: Inner ear Shares a blood supply with the hypothalamus Thermometer measures the temperature of the blood flowing through the membrane Rectum: Most accurate reading Used to measure core body temperature with heat stroke victims Temporal artery: Between the frontal and temporal bone in the skull Thermometer scans temperature of blood in artery using infrared technology

Respiratory insufficiency Skin color Red skin may be an indication of: Heatstroke High blood pressure Pale or ashen skin may be an indication of: Shock Internal bleeding Heat exhaustion Insulin shock Blue (Cyanotic) skin (or mucous membrane), mostly seen in the lips and nailbeds, may be an indication of: Respiratory insufficiency

Examining pupils Normal pupils should be of equal size and react to light (PERL) P = Pupils E = Equal R = React L = Light When light is presented to the eye the pupils should restrict (get smaller) When light is taken away from the eye the pupils should dilate (get larger)

Measuring pain Evaluate the injured athlete’s pain on a scale from 0 to 10 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain possible It is important to establish a baseline for the athlete’s level of pain See Universal pain assessment It is important to check the athlete’s vital sign periodically to see if anything has changed A change can indicate whether the athlete’s condition is improving or getting worse

THINKING IT THROUGH