EMR Environmental Emergencies and Hazmat Awareness Flashcards

A hiker is found confused, with hot and dry skin, after being in the sun for hours. What condition does this most likely indicate?

Answer: Heat stroke

Heat stroke presents with hot, dry skin and altered mental status due to the failure of the body's cooling mechanism, and is a life-threatening emergency.

When treating a patient with frostbite to the fingers in the field, the EMR should:

Answer: Protect the area from further injury and avoid rewarming if refreezing is possible

Field rewarming of frostbitten tissue is contraindicated if there is risk of refreezing, as thaw-refreeze injury causes far greater tissue damage.

At a hazardous materials incident, the EMR's primary role is to:

Answer: Operate within the cold zone, provide support, and avoid contamination

EMRs are not trained for hot-zone operations and must stay in the cold zone to provide support without becoming victims themselves.

A patient was rescued from a house fire and has singed nasal hairs and hoarse voice. What injury does the EMR suspect?

Answer: Inhalation injury to the upper airway

Singed nasal hairs and hoarseness are signs of upper airway thermal injury, which can rapidly progress to complete obstruction.

Which sign best differentiates hypothermia from hypoglycemia in an unresponsive patient found outdoors?

Answer: Hypothermia includes cold skin temperature and bradycardia

Hypothermia is characterized by measurably cold core temperature, bradycardia, and cool skin, which helps distinguish it from hypoglycemia.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is best treated with:

Answer: High-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask

High-flow 100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask accelerates the displacement of CO from hemoglobin, reducing the half-life of carboxyhemoglobin.