Deck 28: Environmental Emergencies

Question 1

Hyperthermia is defined as a core temperature above:

A) 37.5 degrees Celsius
B) 38 degrees Celsius
C) 38.5 degrees Celsius
D) 39 degrees Celsius

Answer 1

38 degrees Celsius

Question 2

A heat-related emergency that occurs during periods of constant exercise in relatively high environmental heat, when there is a failure to maintain fluid intake equal to losses through perspiration and respiration:

A) Heat stroke
B) Heat cramps
C) Heat exhaustion
D) Heat oedema

Answer 2

Heat exhaustion

Question 3

Which among the following interventions DOES NOT prove to be effective in managing signs/symptoms of heat stroke?

A) Active cooling
B) Fluid replacement
C) Oxygen therapy
D) Administration of aspirin and paracetamol

Answer 3

Administration of aspirin and paracetamol

Question 4

What is the focus of treatment for immersion and trench foot cold emergency?

A) Management of fever
B) Rehydration
C) Drying and warming the foot
D) Management of pain/discomfort

Question 5

This is the severity of frostbite where injury extends to the muscles:

A) First degree
B) Second degree
C) Third degree
D) Fourth degree

Question 6

Which among the following life-threatening conditions can be precipitated if CPR is commenced, even with detectable movement, pulse or cardiac rhythm capable of sustaining life:

A) Ventricular fibrillation
B) Reduced cerebral oxygen
C) Kidney failure
D) Aspiration

Question 7

The term meaning where air is trapped in a body cavity/space during descent when diving:

A) Decompression
B) Squeeze
C) Nitrogen narcosis
D) The bends

Question 8

Which among the following IS NOT an issue to be considered from a public health in mass gatherings?

A) Safe and adequate water supply
B) Crowd poplulation
C) Food safety
D) Building safety

Question 9

What intervention should be anticipated if gag reflex is absent from submersion injuries?

A) Intubation
B) Cardio pulmonary resucitation
C) Lavage
D) Naso-gastric tube insertion

Question 10

A diving reflex which is also known as the cold-shock response, producing peripheral vasoconstriction and lowering the heart and respiratory rates:

A) Moro reflex
B) Autonomic response
C) Parasympathetic stimulation
D) Sympathetic stimulation

Question 11

A fit, healthy 34-year-old male mountain climber climbs to 4000 metres (13,800 feet) and upon reaching the summit develops tachycardia, dyspnea, a non-productive cough and a low grade fever. He is most likely suffering which of the following conditions:

A) Pulmonary embolism
B) Pneumonia
C) High altitude pulmonary oedema
D) Pneumothorax

Question 12

In relation to the patient in question 1, which of the following clinical interventions would not be indicated?

A) Supplemental oxygen therapy
B) Immediate descent to a lower altitude
C) Vasodilator medication, e.g. nifedipine, sildenafil
D) Dexamethasone

Question 13

Factors that may predispose a person to environmental temperature-related disorders include all of the following, EXCEPT:

A) Age
B) Underlying health status
C) Ethnicity
D) Medications

Question 14

Which of the following is not a mechanism by which heat is lost from the body?

A) Conduction
B) Dissipation
C) Radiation
D) Evaporation

Question 15

Heat loss resulting from air currents passing over the body is due to:

A) Radiation
B) Conduction
C) Evaporation
D) Convection

Question 16

When cooling a patient with heat stroke, the temperature at which aggressive cooling should stop is:

A) 39-40°C
B) 38-39°C
C) 37-38°C
D) 36-37°C

Question 17

Which of the following classes of drugs are not typically associated with increasing the risk of heat-related conditions?

A) Diuretics
B) Phenothiazines
C) Antihistamines
D) Benzodiazepines

Question 18

Which of the following electrocardiographic changes is characteristic of severe hypothermia?

A) Osborne waves
B) Delta waves
C) Sinus tachycardia
D) ST segment elevation

Question 19

Most cases of nitrogen narcosis occur at depths between which of the following measurements?

A) 1-10 metres
B) 11-20 metres
C) 21-30 metres
D) 31-40 metres

Question 20

The gas responsible for decompression sickness is:

A) Oxygen
B) Nitrogen
C) Carbon dioxide
D) Helium

Question 21

Diving injuries associated with descent include:

A) Arterial gas embolism
B) Pneumothorax
C) Tympanic membrane rupture
D) Decompression sickness

Question 22

Shivering is an effective compensatory mechanism the body utilises to conserve/generate heat. At what temperature does shivering thermogenesis typically cease?

A) < 35°C
B) < 32°C
C) < 30°C
D) < 28°C