Part 4: Environmental Emergencies

Being confused may be a symptom of heat stroke and low body temperature. True False

True

Important - Frostbite:

If you need to touch the frostbitten area, do so gently. Rubbing it may cause damage.

When dealing with poison, look for:

Symbols of poisons nearby - Skull, 'Dangerous,' etc.

Heat Stroke is a life-threatening condition. True False

True

Signs of poisonous spider and scorpion bites and stings

Some of the signs may vary depending on the type of bite or sting: - Severe pain at the site of the bite or sting - Muscle cramps - Headache - Fever - Vomiting - Breathing problems - Seizures - Lack of response

Frostbite

- A cold injury to part of the body is called frostbite. - Frostbite affects parts of the body that are exposed to the cold, such as the fingers, toes, nose, and ears. - Frostbite typically occurs outside in cold weather. But it can also occur inside if workers don't have gloves on and handle cold materials, such as gases under pressure.

Poison Emergencies

- A poison is anything someone swallows, breathes, or gets in the eyes or on the skin that causes sickness or death. Many products can poison people. - This section will not deal with specific poisons. Instead it will cover general principles of first aid for a victim of poisoning. Follow your workplace guidelines about poisonous items in your workplace. - The number for the American Association of Poison Control Centers (Poison Control) is 1-800-222-1222

Animal and Human Bites

- Although many bites are minor, some may break the skin. - - When a bite breaks the skin, the wound can bleed and may become infected from the germs in the biter's mouth. bites that do not break the skin are not usually serious. - Be sure to stay away from an animal that is acting strangely.

Important - Heat Stroke:

- Begin cooling the person immediately. Every minute counts. - If you can't put the person in cool water up to her neck, cool her with a cool water spray. - Stop cooling the person once her behavior is normal again. Continued cooling cooling could lead to low body temperature (hypothermia). - Only put water on the person's skin. - If the person can drink, give her something to drink. Sports drinks are the best for this situation. - If the person can't drink, wait for someone with more advanced training to arrive and take over.

Low Body Temperature (Hypothermia)

- Hypothermia occurs when body temperature falls. - Hypothermia is a serious condition that can cause death. - A person can develop hypothermia even when the temperature is above freezing. - Shivering protects the body by producing heat. Shivering stops when the body becomes very cold.

Snakebites

- If a snake bites someone, it is helpful to be able to identify the kind of snake. - Sometimes you can identify the snake from its bite mark. If you aren't sure whether a snake is poisonous, assume that it is.

Important - other poison emergencies:

- If you give CPR to a poisoning victim, use a mask for giving breaths if possible. - This precaution is especially important if the poison is on the lips or mouth. - Some dispatchers may connect you to a poison control center. - Give only those antidotes that the poison control center or dispatcher tells you to. - The first aid instructions on the poison itself can be helpful but may be incomplete.

Scene Safety for Poison Emergencies

- If you think someone may have been exposed to a poison, make sure the scene is safe before giving first aid. This takes a few more steps than in other first aid situations.

Heat Cramps

- Most heat-related emergencies are caused by vigorous exercise. - Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms, most often in the calves, arms, stomach muscles, and back.

Signs of Poisonous Snakebites

- Pain in the bite area that keeps getting worse - Swelling of the bite area - Nausea, vomiting, sweating, and weakness

Important - Snakebites:

- Some people have heard about other ways to treat a snakebite, such as sucking out the poison. The correct steps for treating a snakebite are in the table.

Some insect bites can be serious and even fatal if:

- The person bitten has a severe allergic reaction to the bite or sting - Poison (venom) is injected into the person (For example, from a black widow spider or a brown recluse spider.)

Signs:

- The skin is cool to the touch - Shivering (remember, shivering stops when the body temperature is very low) - The person may become confused or drowsy - Personality may change or the person may behave as if unconcerned about the condition - Muscles become stiff and rigid and the skin becomes ice cold and blue. As the body temperature continues to drop: - The person stops responding - The person's breathing slows - It may be hard to tell whether the person is breathing - The person may appear to be dead

Signs of Frostbite

- The skin over the frostbitten area is white, waxy, or grayish-yellow. - The frostbitten area is cold and numb. - The frostbitten area is hard, and the skin doesn't move when you push it.

Important - Human and Animal Bites

- These animals may carry rabies: cat, dog, skunk, raccoon, fox, bat, or other wild animal - If a person is in a room with a bat, contact a healthcare provider

Ticks

- Ticks are found on animals and in wooded areas - They attach themselves to exposed body parts - Many ticks are harmless, but some carry serious diseases - If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible. - The longer the tick stays attached to a person, the greater the person's chance of catching a disease

Insect, Bee, and Spider Bites and Stings

- Usually insect and spider bites and stings cause only mild pain, itching, and swelling at the bite.

Important - Scene safety and snakes:

- When making sure the scene is safe, be very careful around a wounded snake - Back away and go around the snake - If a snake has been killed or hurt by accident, leave it alone. A snake might bite even when severely hurt or close to death - If the snake needs to be moved, use a long-handled shovel. If you don't need to move it, leave it alone.

Important - Ticks

Some people have heard about other ways to remove a tick. The correct way to remove a tick is to follow the actions in the table.

Other first aid for poison emergencies

- Worksites should have a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for each chemical at the worksite. - You should know where the MSDS is at your worksite. The MSDS provides a description of how a specific poison can be harmful. - Unfortunately the MSDS usually provides little information about first aid actions. - Some of the first aid actions listed in the MSDS or on the label of the poison may be outdated. - You will probably receive additional training on MSDS during the "Right to Know" training your workplace provides.

Actions for Frostbite:

1. Get the person out of the cold. 2. Remove wet clothing and pat the body dry. Put dry clothes on the person and cover the person with a blanket. 3. Phone or ask someone to phone your emergency response number or 911 and get the first aid kit and AED, if available. 4. Wrap the person up with anything you have - clothing, towels, newspapers, etc. Cover the head but not the face. 5. See if the person needs CPR. If so, give CPR. If you don't know how, give Hands-Only CPR.

Actions for Poison Emergencies

1. Make sure the scene is safe before you approach. 2. If the scene seems unsafe, do not approach. Tell everyone to move away. 3. Look for signs that warn you that poisons are nearby. 4. Look for spilled or leaking containers. 5. Stay out of the area with the poison if you see more than 1 victim. 6. If you approach the scene, wear appropriate protective equipment.

Actions to give First Aid to Someone Who Has Been Bitten by a Snake

1. Make sure the scene is safe. Get the first aid kit and wear PPE. 2. Ask another adult to move any other people inside or away from the area and phone your emergency response number or 911. 3. Ask the bitten person to be still and calm. Tell him to avoid moving the part of the body that was bitten. 4. Remove any tight clothing and jewelry. 5. Gently wash the bite area with running water and soap if available.

Actions for tick bites

1. Make sure the scene is safe. Get the first aid kit and wear PPE. 2. Grab the tick by its mouth or head as close to the skin as possible with tweezers or a tick-removing device. 3. Lift the tick straight out without twisting or squeezing its body. If you lift the sick until the person's skin tents and wait you several seconds, the tick may let go. 4. Wash the bite with running water, and soap, if available. 5. See a healthcare provider if you are in an area where tick-borne diseases occur. If possible, place the tick in a plastic bag and give it to the healthcare provider.

Actions for heat exhaustions

1. Make sure the scene is safe. Get the first aid kit and wear PPE. 2. Phone or ask someone to phone your emergency response number or 911. 3. Have the person lie down in a cool place. 4. Remove as much of the person's clothing as possible. 5. Cool the person with a cool water spray. 6. If cool water spray is not available, place cool damp cloths on the neck, armpit, and groin area. 7. Have the person drink something that contains sugar and electrolytes, such as juice or a sports drink, or water if the others aren't available.

Actions to give first aid to someone with a bite or a sting

1. Make sure the scene is safe. Get the first aid kit and wear PPE. 2. Phone or send someone to phone your emergency response number or 911 and get the first aid kit if: - The person has signs of a severe allergic reaction - The person tells you that she has a severe allergic reaction to insect bites or stings. Get the person's epinephrine pen if she has one. 3. If a bee stung the person: - Look for the stinger. Bees are the only insects that may leave their stingers behind. - Scrape away the stinger and venom sac by using something with a dull edge, such as a credit card 4. Wash the bite or sting area with a lot of running water (and soap, if possible). 5. Put a bag of ice and water wrapped in a towel or cloth over the bite or sting area for up to 20 minutes. 6. Watch the person for at least 30 minutes for signs of an allergic reaction.

Actions for a spider or scorpion bite or sting

1. Make sure the scene is safe. Get the first aid kit and wear PPE. 2. Phone your emergency response number or 911 3. Wash the bite with a lot of running water (and soap, if available). 4. Put a bag of ice and water wrapped in a towel or cloth on the bite. 5. See if the person needs CPR. If he does, give CPR. If you don't know how, give Hands-Only CPR.

Actions for other poison emergencies

1. Make sure the scene is safe. Get the first aid kit and wear PPE. 2. Send someone to phone your emergency response number or 911. 3. Tell the dispatcher the name of the poison if possible. If not possible, give the dispatcher a description of the poison. 4. Remove the poison, if possible. 5. Move the person form the scene of the poison if you can. 6. Help the person move to an area with fresh air, if possible. 7. Send someone to get the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), if available.

Actions for Heat Cramps:

1. Make sure the scene is safe. Get the first aid kit and wear PPE. 2. Have the person with heat cramps rest and cool off. 3. Have the person drink something that contains sugar and electrolytes, such as juice or a sports drink, or water if the others aren't available.

Actions for Heat Stroke

1. Make sure the scene is safe. Get the first aid kit and wear PPE. 2. Phone or ask someone to phone your emergency response number or 911. 3. Put the person in cool water, up to her neck if possible. 4. See if the person needs CPR. If he does, give CPR. If you don't know how, give Hands-Only CPR.

Actions for a Human or an Animal Bite

1. Make sure the scene is safe. Get the first aid kit. Wear PPE. 2. For animal bites, phone or send someone to phone your emergency response number (or 911). 3. Clean the Wound with a lot of running water (and soap, if available). 4. Stop any bleeding with pressure and dressings. 5. For all bites that break the skin, call a healthcare provider. 6. If there is a bruise or swelling, place a bag of ice and water wrapped in a towel on the bite for up to 20 minutes.

Actions for Removing Poison

1. Make sure the scene is safe. get the first aid kit. Wear PPE. 2. Help the person take off contaminated clothing and jewelry. 3. Quickly help the person to a safety shower or eyewash station if he responds and can move. 4. Brush off any dry powder or solid substances from the skin with your gloved hand. 5. Rinse the contaminated areas with a lot of water for at least 20 minutes or until someone with more training arrives and takes over.

Actions for Frostbite

1. Move the person to a warm place. 2. Phone or ask someone to phone your emergency response number or 911 and get the first aid kit. 3. Remove tight clothing and jewelry from the frostbitten part. 4. Remove wet clothing and pat the body dry. Put dry clothes on the person and cover the person with a blanket. 5. Do not try to thaw the frozen part if you think there may be a chance of refreezing.

Removing Poison

Get the poison off the person as quickly as you safely can. Use lots of water to rinse the poisons off.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a serious condition that often turns into heat stroke. If often occurs when someone exercises in the heat and sweats a lot.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is a very serious condition. It looks similar to heat exhaustion but it is life threatening; you need to act quickly.

Important - Removing Poisons

If only one eye is affected make sure the eye with the poison in it is the lower eye as you rinse. Make sure you do not rinse the poison into the unaffected eye. Help the person wash his eyes and face under water flowing from a faucet or hose. Or use an eyewash station.

Important - bee stings:

Make sure you remove the stinger with something flat and dull that won't squeeze the stinger. Squeezing the venom sac can release more venom (poison).

Important - Heat Cramps

Mild heat-related signs are a warning that the person's condition may get worse unless you take action. Symptoms of heat-related emergencies often increase if left untreated.

FYI - Heat Cramps

Once heat cramp symptoms stop, the person can exercise again. Stretching, icing, and massaging painful muscles may be helpful. A bag with ice and water wrapped in a towel may be applied to the sore muscle for up to 20 minutes if the person can tolerate it.

FYI - Rewarming:

Place a person with low body temperature near a heat source and place containers of warm, but not hot, water in contact with the skin. It is important to get the person to medical care as soon as possible.

Signs of Heat Stroke

The key signs of heat stroke are confusion, passing out, dizziness, and seizures. other signs of heat stroke include nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, feeling faint, and fatigue.

If you give CPR to someone who has been poisoned, it is important to use a mask, if possible, to give breaths. True False

True

When someone has a bite, be sure to wash the bite area with a lot of soap and water. True False

True

FYI - other poison emergencies

When you call the emergency response number, try to have the following information ready: - What is the name of the poison? Can you describe it if you cannot name it? - How much poison did the person touch, breathe, or swallow? - About how old is the person? - What is the person's approximate weight? - When did the poisoning happen? - How is the person feeling or acting right now?

Someone who has been bitten by an insect or bee may have a severe allergic reaction and should be watched for at least ________ minutes. a. 10 b. 20 c. 30 d. 60

c. 30 minutes

Remove ticks ________ a. with a hot matchstick b. with lots of alcohol on the skin c. by using tweezers d. with your hands

c. by using tweezers

Signs of head cramps

include muscle cramps, sweating, and headaches

Signs of Heat Exhaustion

may include sweating, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, muscle cramps, feeling faint, and fatigue