emt-basic curriculum module 4

State of WisconsinEMT-Basic: A Practice BasedApproach to EMS EducationD. Emergency medical care of heat emergencies - patient with hot, dry ormoist skin1. Remove the patient from the hot environment and place in acool environment (back of air conditioned ambulance with airconditioner running on high)2. Remove clothing3. Administer oxygen if not already done during the initialassessment4. Apply cool packs to neck, groin and armpits5. Keep the skin wet by applying water by sponge or wet towels6. Fan aggressively7. Transport immediatelyV. Water-Related EmergenciesA. Near drowning/drowning1. Ensure the safety of the rescue personnel2. Suspect possible spine injury if diving accident is involved orunknown3. Suspect possible hypothermic conditions if immersion in coldwater or an open body of water4. Consider length of time in cold water drowning. Any pulseless,non-breathing patient who has been submerged in cold watershould be resuscitated. Check pulses for a full 60 seconds.5. Emergency medical care:a) In-line immobilization and removal from water withbackboard if spine injury is suspected and patient isresponsiveb) If there is no suspected spine injury, place patient on leftside to allow water, vomitus and secretions to drain fromupper airwayc) Suction as neededd) Administer oxygen if not already done during the initialassessmente) If gastric distention interferes with artificial ventilation, thepatient should be placed on his left side. With suctionimmediately available, the EMT-Basic should place hishand over the epigastric area of the abdomen and applyfirm pressure to relieve the distention. This procedureshould only be done if the gastric distention interfereswith the ability of the EMT-Basic to artificially ventilate thepatient effectively.f) For warm water drownings requiring resuscitation - seecardiac moduleB. Diving Accidents1. The Diver Alert Network (DAN) is a resource for care of divingaccident patients2. Decompression sicknessModule 4-77