Signs and Symptoms

Mild: the “umbles”

  • fumbles, grumbles, mumbles, stumbles

Moderate:

  • Uncontrolled shivering

  • Confusion

  • Impaired judgement

Severe:

  • Shivering stops

  • Semiconscious or unconscious

  • Pulse and respiration slowed or absent

  • Handle person carefully

  • Replace wet clothing

  • Remove from cold

  • Warm by adding layers or blankets

  • Warm with warm water bottles or another person’s body heat

  • Give simple carbs; no alcohol

If Severe:

  • Warm slowly. If you warm quickly, cold blood may be sent to the heart, shutting it down.

  • Perform CPR if needed.

  • Call Emergency Services

Hypothermia - care

Heat Cramps

  • Muscle spasms

  • Pain in legs and/or abdomen

Heat Exhaustion

  • Sweating

  • Tired

  • Headache

  • Nausea

  • Elevated Heart Rate

Heat Stroke

  • Change in level of consciousness

  • Stop sweating

  • Skin hot and dry

  • Seizures

Signs and Symptoms

Heat Cramps

  • Move to cooler location

  • Give electrolyte/carb-rich drink such as Gatorade or Orange Juice

Heat Exhaustion (In addition to above)

  • Wet person

  • Loosen clothing

Heat Stroke (In addition to above)

  • Submerge person to neck in cold water or drench as much as possible

  • Monitor ABCs

Hyperthermia - care

Caused by cardiovascular stress

  • Disorientation, anxious, or restless

  • Lethargy

  • Rapid and weak heart rate

  • Rapid and shallow breathing

  • Pale, cool, clammy skin

  • Nausea

Signs and Symptoms

shock - care

  • Keep person calm and assured

  • Keep person in position of comfort

  • Maintain normal body temperature with blankets or ice packs

  • Monitor ABCs

  • Small sips of fluids or small bits of food

Before submersion:

  • Panicked breathing

  • Body vertical and no forward progress

  • Arm and leg movements are uncoordinated

After submersion:

  • Unconsciousness

  • Slowed or absent pulse and/or respiration

Signs and Symptoms

Before submersion:

  • Throw or reach with a flotation device.

  • Do not approach an active drowning victim. They will likely grab you for support and bring you down too.

After submersion:

  • Place person on back with opened airway.

  • Contact EMS if needed.

  • Perform CPR if needed and if trained for in-water CPR.

  • Remove person from water as soon as possible.

  • Continue to monitor vitals.

submersion- care

  • Due to lack of O2

  • Headache

  • Loss of appetite

  • Nausea

  • Insomnia

  • Unsual weariness

  • rapid heartbeat

Fluid may collect around the brain causing: High-altitude cerbral edema (HACE) which can cause seizures and irregular movement.

If fluid collects around the lungs, it causes: High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) leading to breathing difficulties.

Signs and Symptoms

  • Stop ascending and rest 24 hours

  • If symptoms are severe, descend to a lower altitude

  • Keep hydrated and fed

  • Give aspirin or Tylenol for headache

  • For HACE or HAPE:

  • Descend immediately 1000 ft

  • Use portable barometric chamber if available or

  • Provide emergency O2 if available

  • Never ascend to extreme altitudes without a plan and essential supplies!

Altitude - care

  • Abdominal discomfort, especially in lower abs

  • Intermittent cramping

  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Serious illness:

  • Fever

  • Pain when moving

  • Pain in specific region of abdomen

  • Blood

Signs and Symptoms

  • Keep person hydrated. Include sufficient electrolytes if necessary (Gatorade or fruit drink work well).

  • Avoid fats, dairy, alcohol, and caffeine.

  • Give bland food items like crackers.

Seriousness illness:

  • Call 911 or poison control (or go for help).

  • Evacuate quickly.

  • Give only small sips of water.

Abdominal - care

  • Burn marks from entry to exit

  • Dazed or confused

  • Unconsciousness

  • Difficulty Breathing

  • Weak, irregular, or absent heartbeat

Signs and Symptoms

Treatment:

  • Cover burns loosely

  • Perform CPR if needed

  • Use AED if possible

Prevention:

  • Move to lower ground

  • Squat on insulated material (or just in your shoes) but DO NOT lie down

  • Spread out from buddies and tall objects (trees

lightning - care

Types of Burns

  • Chemical (e.g., acid or base)

  • Electrical (e.g., power cable)

  • Heat (e.g., fire)

  • Radiation (e.g., sunlight)

First degree - outer layer of skin

Second degree - some parts of the dermis layer. Blisters.

Thrd degree - burn through all layers of skin down to the flesh or bones. Burn is white and leathery. (911 required).

Signs and Symptoms

In all cases:

  • Flush with cool (not cold) water.

  • Do not pop blisters

  • Dress with burn gel and loosely-wrapped guaze 2x per day

Chemical burns (911 recommended)

  • Remove contaminated clothing

  • Electrical burns (911 recommended)

  • Monitor vitals. Perform CPR if needed

Heat burns

  • Do not remove melted material from the burn

Radiation burns

  • Hydrate

Burns - care