Australian Ski Patrol Association

1
Australian Ski Patrol Association

• Advanced First Aid
• Lesson 5
• Injuries due to Heat and Cold

2
Heat Injuries

• Local injuries
• Burns
• General injuries
• Heat Cramp
• Heat Exhaustion
• Heat Stroke

3
Causes of burns

• Excess heat
• Friction
• Chemicals
• Electricity
• Radiation
• Classification - depth, area, location

4
Rescue

• Leave to expert help if possible.
• If necessary to enter a burning building
• feel door - hot NO, cold/warm - crouch, open
  slowly
• cover mouth and nose with a damp cloth
• Low voltage
• High voltage
• THE DANGER PRINCIPLE RULES

5
Burns Management

• Put out burning clothing
• Cool burnt area with water (up to 15 minutes)
• Cover with non-stick sterile dressing
• SMA if
• burn is deep
• superficial bigger than 20c piece
• involves airway, hands, face, genitals
• unsure of seriousness of burn

D R A B C
6
DO NOT

• Apply lotions/oily dressings
• Prick or break blisters
• Give alcohol to drink
• Overcool the casualty
• Use cotton-wool, adhesives, etc. on wound

7
Hyperthermia

• Result from prolonged exposure to hot or humid
  conditions
• Risk management required when conditions suggest
  hyperthermia is possible

R I C E
8
Heat Cramps

• Early signs include painful heat cramps,
  neasea/vomiting, tiredness, dizziness or
  weakness. Note skin is still moist and cool
• Treat by
• Removing to a cool place, lie down, replace lost
  fluids
• Ice packs to cramped muscles, stretch muscle, DO
  NOT MASSAGE
• Warn re continued risk

9
Heat Exhaustion

• Most common in hot, humid climates
• Casualty feels not, exhausted, weak, may have a
  persistant headache
• Thirst, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite
• Giddiness, faintness, cramps, shortness of
  breath, lack of coordination, rapid breathing and
  pulse, possible irritation and confusion. Note
  skin is stin pale, cool and clammy

10
Management

• Remove to a cool place with air circulation
• Loosen tight clothing, remove unnecessary
  garments
• Sponge body with cool water (do not overcool)
• Replace lost fluid
• SMA if patient vomits and cannot keep fluid down

11
Heat Stroke

• Potentially lethal, early recognition vital.
• Headache, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, visual
  disturbances, irritability, confusions,
  aggression
• Altered mental state progressing to
  unconsciousness
• Rise in body temperature to 40o or more
• Strong, pounding, rapid pulse
• Skin flushed and usually hot dry

12
Management

• As for heat exhaustion
• Cover with wet sheet and fan
• SMA urgently
• If conscious, give fluids

13
Cold Injuries

• Local
• Frostnip
• Frostbite
• General
• Mild exposure
• Severe hypothermia

14
Frostnip - superficial

• Numb, tingling, waxy appearance, firm to touch,
  painless until rewarmed, possible blisters.
• Remove to a warm dry place, allow circulation,
  rewarm using body heat
• Cover blisters as for burns
• SMA

15
Frostbite - deep tissue damage

• Area is white, hard to the touch and painless
• DO NOT ATTEMPT TO THAW
• SMA urgently
• Transport casualty splinted and still

16
Wind Chill Factor

• Wind Ambient Temperature (oC)
• Speed 5 0 -10 -20 -30
• (km/h) Equivalent Wind Chill Temperature (oC)
• 8 2 -5 -12 -24 -34
• 16 0 -9 -20 -31 -45
• 24 -4 -12 -23 -40 -54
• 32 -7 -15 -26 -43 -60
• 40 -9 -20 -29 -45 -62
• High Danger
• Extreme Danger

17
Mild Hypothermia

• Immersion, wind chill, lack of protective
  clothing, drugs
• Severity depends on age/condition, clothing,
  temperature, wind speed, period of exposure
• Cold feeling, excessive fatigue, vision problems,
  faintness, cramps, slowing mental responses and
  coordination, confusion, slurred speech

18
Management

• Protect casualty and yourself
• Remove and wrap in warm dry clothing, or in a
  body bag
• Warm drinks - no alcohol
• Warm bath
• Do not use radiant heat
• SMA if recovery is not prompt

D R A B C
19
Severe Hypothermia

• Coldness
• Slow pulse
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Quietness and refusal of food (infants)
• Progressing to unconsciousness

20
Treatment

• Ensure absence of pulse/respiration before
  commencing CPR
• Remove to warm dry place
• Allow body temp to rise gradually - blankets
• Do not warm extremities initially
• SMA urgently
• Do not seek to speed warming externally

D R A B C