Chapter 32 Environmental Emergencies

All of the following snakes are pit vipers, EXCEPT for the: copperhead. rattlesnake. coral snake. cottonmouth.

C.

Breath-holding syncope is caused by a decreased stimulus to breathe and occurs when: a swimmer breathes shallowly before entering the water. a diver holds his or her breath during a staged ascent. a swimmer hyperventilates prior to entering the water. a diver holds his or her breath for a long period of time.

C.

Geriatric patients, newborns, and infants are especially prone to hyperthermia because they: have relatively smaller heads. have less body fat. exhibit poor thermoregulation. have smaller body surface areas.

C.

Signs of late heatstroke include: hot, moist skin. nausea and vomiting. a weak, rapid pulse. a change in behavior.

C.

The transfer of heat to circulating air, such as when cool air moves across the body's surface, is called: radiation. conduction. convection. evaporation.

C.

A dysbarism injury refers to the signs and symptoms related to changes in: rapid ascent. rapid descent. decompression. barometric pressure.

D.

The venom of a brown recluse spider is cytotoxic, meaning that it: suppresses the respiratory drive. destroys the body's red blood cells. weakens the structure of the bones. causes severe local tissue damage.

D.

Which of the following statements regarding drowning is correct? Hypoxia in the drowning victim initially occurs due to water in the lungs. Artificial ventilations can easily be performed in patients with a laryngospasm. Large amounts of water enter the lungs in a small number of drowning victims. Laryngospasm following submersion in water makes rescue breathing difficult.

D.

You are dispatched to a local high school track and field event for a 16-year-old male who fainted. The outside temperature is approximately 95°F (35°C) with high humidity. Upon your arrival, the patient is conscious, alert, and complains of nausea and a headache. His skin is cool, clammy, and pale. You should: give him a liquid salt solution to drink. administer 100% supplemental oxygen. apply chemical ice packs to his axillae. move him into the cooled ambulance.

D.

You are dispatched to a residence for a young female who is sick. The patient complains of a rash to her lower extremities and truncal area. Your assessment reveals a small, painful blister on her inner thigh. As your partner is taking the patient's vital signs, she states that she and her family returned from a camping trip 2 days ago. On the basis of this patient's presentation, you should suspect: Lyme disease. an allergic reaction. exposure to poison ivy. Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

A.

A patient with a core body temperature of 95°F (35°C) will MOST likely experience: a slow pulse. rapid breathing. muscle stiffness. loss of consciousness.

B.

Your assessment of a 23-year-old female reveals a core body temperature of 93.4°F (34°C). She is conscious, answers your questions appropriately, is shivering, and complains of nausea. Her skin is cold and pale, her muscles appear rigid, and her respirations are rapid. You should: apply the AED in case she develops cardiopulmonary arrest, cover her with layers of blankets, and transport carefully. place heat packs to her groin, axillae, and behind her neck; cover her with warm blankets; and avoid rough handling. cover her with warm blankets and let her move about on the stretcher in order to generate body heat and increase her temperature. sit her up and give her small sips of warm water to drink, place heat packs to her axillae and groin, and cover her with blankets.

B.

Shivering is a mechanism in which the body generates heat by: increasing the metabolic rate. decreasing the use of oxygen. decreasing the metabolic rate. retaining excess carbon dioxide.

A.

After being stung on the leg by a jellyfish, a man complains of severe pain to his leg, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. He has a red rash covering his trunk and his blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg. The EMT should: administer oxygen and epinephrine and prepare for rapid transport. remove the stingers from his leg by scraping them with a stiff object. begin transport and immerse his leg in hot water to help reduce pain. apply warmth to the sting area and cover it with a dry, sterile dressing.

A.

The diving reflex may allow a person to survive extended periods of submersion in cold water secondary to: bradycardia and a slowing of the metabolic rate. laryngospasm that protects the lungs from water. tachycardia and a lowering of the blood pressure. increases in the metabolic rate and oxygen demand.

A.

Which of the following statements regarding lightning strikes is correct? Lightning strikes may cause cardiac dysrhythmias that spontaneously resolve. The tissue damage pathway caused by lightning usually occurs through the skin. Victims who are struck by lightning often experience severe full-thickness burns. Cervical spine fractures are the most common cause of lightning-related deaths.

A.

You and your partner are standing by at a large social event at a river resort when a frantic woman tells you that she found a young male floating face-down in the water. Nobody claims to have witnessed the event. After you and your partner enter the water and reach the patient, you should: move him as a unit to a supine position. begin ventilations with a barrier device. immediately secure him to a longboard. open his airway with the jaw-thrust maneuver.

A.

You are assessing a 33-year-old male who complains of severe abdominal pain, weakness, and nausea. He tells you that he was gathering wood to build a fire when he felt a sudden, sharp pain on the back of his hand. Your assessment reveals that the patient's abdomen is rigid and painful to palpation. You should suspect: a black widow spider bite. envenomation from a pit viper. a brown recluse spider bite. Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

A.