Class Summary - Today I want you to learn about heat and cold related emergencies. Step 1 - Read the summaries of heat and cold related emergencies and watch the video after each summary for the emergency that you read about Step 2 - Read through slides about the emergencies. Step 3 - Complete the google form ws found here - https://forms.gle/xzoCcsnBg2NwZ6sE8 You may refer back to this website or other resources if you want to. Submit the form when you are finished.
When discussing heat related emergencies, we talk about the progression of heat cramps to heat exhaustion to heat stroke. Heat cramps are just that, cramps in muscles because the body has gotten too hot. This is not a life threatening emergency, but the body does need to cool down. Stop exercise get in shade and fan. Remove any heavy clothing. If the body doesn't cool down it moves to heat exhaustion where the body starts to get very fatigued. Again, this is not an emergency, but if the body does not cool down it can easily progress to something more. Heat stroke is a life threatening emergency and needs 911 interventions. Someone with heat stroke may be unconscious or go in and out of consciousness, be hot to the touch or stop sweating (which is bad). If encountering a heat related emergency, the victim should be removed from the heat and cooled down with fanning, cool sips of water (if fully conscious), cool towels, and remove warm clothing.
It does not need to be freezing to have a cold related emergency. Factors like windchill, exposed skin and wet clothing can result in cold related emergencies even if it is not freezing out. Symptoms of hypothermia is confusion, glassy stare, shivering could stop, in and out of consciousness. For cold related emergencies, particularly hypothermia, we want to warm the body gradually. If they are fully conscious we can give them something warm to drink (no alcohol), remove wet clothing, bundle them up and get them to a warm environment. Call 911 if you think someone has hypothermia. With frostbite put gauze in between fingers and toes and use WARM not hot water to slowly warm. Seek medical help as soon as possible. DO NOT rub frostbitten fingers or hands or ears.