Environmental Emergencies

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

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

Heat Related Illness Heat Cramps Least Severe First sign that the body is heat stressed Painful muscle spasms

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

Heat Related Illness Heat 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

Heat Related Illness Heat Exhaustion 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 Illness Heat 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 Illness IMMEDIATELY Heat Stroke Rapid cooling – immersion Cover with bags of ice Rapid Cooling for no more than 20 minutes – Protect the skin (ice)

Cold Related Illness Frostbite 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 Illness Frostbite Cold to the touch Discolored Blisters Black Skin with signs of deep tissue damage

Cold Related Illness Frostbite 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 Illness Frostbite 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 Illness Hypothermia 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 Illness Hypothermia – Some Causes Intoxication Circulatory Medical Conditions Prolonged exposure

Cold Related Illness Hypothermia – What to look for Shivering Numbness – Whole body Glassy stare (shock) Indifference LOC Shivering that stops without re-warming is DANGER SIGN

Cold Related Illness Hypothermia – 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 Illness Hypothermia – 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 Illness Hypothermia – What to do Unconscious – Recovery position and monitor the ABC’s

Heat / Cold Prevention Stay indoors (or in climate controlled area during hottest and coldest parts of the day Alter activity level depending on temp Dress appropriately Drink large amounts of fluid

Bites & Stings

Bites & Stings Most bites and stings aren’t serious Flies Bees Ticks Fleas Etc.

Bites & Stings Insect Stings What to look for: Presence of a stinger Pain Swelling Signals of an allergic reaction

Bites & Stings Insect 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 & Stings Tick-Borne Diseases Rocky Mountain spotted fever Babesia Infection Ehrlichiosis Lyme Disease

Bites & Stings Tick-Borne Diseases Rocky Mountain spotted fever Bacterial infection – mostly in spring and summer and mostly in children

Bites & Stings Tick-Borne Diseases Rocky Mountain spotted fever Fever Nausea Muscle aches or pain Loss of appetite Severe headaches Rash (Later)

Bites & Stings Lyme 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

Bites & Stings Lyme Diseases What to look for: Small Rash at the site of the bite Center lighter with redder outer edge Fever Headache Joint / Muscle Pain

Bites & Stings Lyme Diseases Seek medical help if the rash begins to spread away from the site

Bites & Stings Removing a Tick

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

Bites & Stings Spider Bites & Scorpion Stings

Bites & Stings Spider Bites & Scorpion Stings Few spiders in U.S. cause major problems Black Widow & Brown Recluse can be fatal

Bites & Stings Spider Bites & Scorpion 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 Spider Bites & Scorpion Stings Brown Recluse Violin shape on the back portion of the front segment

Bites & Stings Spider Bites & Scorpion 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 Bites & Scorpion 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 Spider Bites & Scorpion Stings Black Widow (con’t) Excessive sweating Weakness Drooping Eyelids Swelling at the site of the bite and expanding

Bites & Stings Spider Bites & Scorpion 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 Spider Bites & Scorpion 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 Venomous Snake Bites 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

Bites & Stings Venomous Snake Bites

Bites & Stings Venomous Snake Bites

Bites & Stings Venomous Snake Bites

Bites & Stings Venomous Snake Bites 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 Venomous Snake Bites DO NOT APPLY ICE DO NOT CUT THE WOUND OPEN DO NOT APPLY A TOURNIQUET DO NOT USE AN ELECTRIC SHOCK

Bites & Stings Animal Bites 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?

Bites & Stings Animal Bites 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

Bites & Stings Marine Life Stings Stingray Jellyfish Portuguese Man O’ War

Bites & Stings Marine Life Stings Jellyfish stings are the most common Very painful and dangerous if a person has an allergic reaction to the venom

Bites & Stings Marine Life 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

Bites & Stings Marine Life 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

Poisonous Plants Poison Ivy 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

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

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