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#Post#: 62--------------------------------------------------
COLD RELATED EMERGENCIES
DIR By: Leslie Myers
Date: December 30, 2011, 9:32 pm
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Brrrrr..the outside will be getting frightful soon...
Today you responded to a 66 year female who fell on the ice
while getting her mail..she was outside on the sidewalk in front
of her house for about 20 minutes when her 80 yo neighbor found
her and called 911. He could not move her..he did cover her
with a blanket..she is alert and answering your questions
correctly. How should you warm this patient? And what type of
injuries do you think you might find?
#Post#: 64--------------------------------------------------
Re: COLD RELATED EMERGENCIES
DIR By: cmisiak
Date: December 31, 2011, 9:09 pm
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Although she is responding appropriately-I would still take
head,cervical and spinal precautions. I would then get the
backboard under her to form the barrier between her and the cold
sidewalk. Warm the patient with a heated blanket if possible as
well as warm packs to groin and armpits. With the fall there
could be fractures-hip, pelvis as well as head and spine
injuries. Watch and treat for shock.
#Post#: 68--------------------------------------------------
Re: COLD RELATED EMERGENCIES
DIR By: mhundt
Date: January 1, 2012, 3:38 pm
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I would take c-spine precautions as well, covering the patient
with blankets and using the long board to remove the patient
from the cold and transport her to the warmed rig. If her
clothes were wet from the ice I would remove them, if possible,
and cover her with more blankets. I would also apply heat packs
to the groin, armpits, and neck. Possible injuries include
fractures and c-spine as mentioned above as well as early
superficial injuries from the cold. I would also rule out any
pre-existing condition that may have caused her to fall.
Finally, I'd watch and treat for shock, too.
#Post#: 69--------------------------------------------------
Re: COLD RELATED EMERGENCIES
DIR By: 10275013
Date: January 2, 2012, 1:38 am
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I agree with what the others mention in the prior post, but
would also monitor patients respitory and neuros as part of the
ongoing assessment
#Post#: 74--------------------------------------------------
Re: COLD RELATED EMERGENCIES
DIR By: mikekennedy
Date: January 2, 2012, 10:03 am
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I would take c spine precautions on the patient using collar and
long board. Passive heating with just blankets and compartment
heat should be enough. The use of heat pack or external heat
source might be to aggressive. Injuries suspected could range
from fractures to contusions to spine injury all the way brain
trauma and bleeding.
#Post#: 79--------------------------------------------------
Re: COLD RELATED EMERGENCIES
DIR By: fire56ch
Date: January 2, 2012, 1:41 pm
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Take c-spine precautions as well, covering the patient with
blankets transport her to the warmed rig. If her clothes were
wet from the ice I would remove them, if possible, and cover her
with more blankets. Possible injuries include fractures and
c-spine as mentioned above as well as early superficial injuries
from the cold. I would also rule out any pre-existing condition
that may have caused her to fall. Finally, I'd watch and treat
for shock.
#Post#: 87--------------------------------------------------
Re: COLD RELATED EMERGENCIES
DIR By: jeff baranowski
Date: January 3, 2012, 6:37 pm
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I would immediately take c spine precautions, backboard and
collar, remove pt from the outside elements,load pt in
ambulance,start passive rewarming due to weather and age of pt.
Enroute to hospital I would do a head to toe assesment, checking
for fractures and obvious signs of bleeding and also head
injuries.
#Post#: 94--------------------------------------------------
Re: COLD RELATED EMERGENCIES
DIR By: Brendan
Date: January 4, 2012, 1:16 pm
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Having that information on dispatch I would begin to heat the
passenger compartment to the ambulance enroute to the emergency.
On arrival I would treat for c-spine injury, remove the patient
to a lsb, and then place the patient in the pre-warmed ambulance
without delay. In the ambulance I do a head to toe assesment,
and medical history inquiry.
I would expect that fractures could be a real possibility due to
the age of the patient, as well as potential for head or neck
injuries. Also, due to the time frame hypothermia is a real
possiblity. Although it has only been 15 to 20 minutes, again
due to the patients age hypothermia will occur at a much faster
rate.
#Post#: 97--------------------------------------------------
Re: COLD RELATED EMERGENCIES
DIR By: Randy Kohl
Date: January 4, 2012, 3:54 pm
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put on gloves then collar her then board then move her to the
inside of the ambulance to warm her
#Post#: 100--------------------------------------------------
Re: COLD RELATED EMERGENCIES
DIR By: mandrade
Date: January 4, 2012, 4:47 pm
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I would warm the Pt. slowly by putting her in an ambulance if
available and covering them with blankets in a position of
comfort if possible. As far as injuries I would consider head
and C spine as well as other possible fractures because of
inability to self ambulate and get warm. Definately suspect
hypoyhermia at least.
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