Anyway it's useful and everyone should read it. The head of my medical unit sent this to me.
~Megan
~*~*~*~*~*~*"ICE WILL KILL A HEAT CASUALTY" ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Lets put the ice thing to bed,
First of all, my wife (who is sitting right here) is a paramedic (national registry) and an emerency trauma nurse - plus I've handled more heat injuries in 20 years in infantry, airborne and SF units than I want to discuss.
ICE IS NOT APPROPRIATE for heat casualties.
If an individual is a heat casualty (heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke are all stages on the same continum) the first thing you do is get EMS on scene ASAP.
While waiting for EMS. The following is taken from the RP member's manual and based on standard US Army first aid training:
1. Heat Cramps.
Symptoms: Muscle cramps of the aims, legs or abdomen: excessive sweating; and thirst.
First Aid; Move the casualty to a cool or shady area; loosen clothing; have the casualty slowly drink at least a quart of cool water; seek medical aid if cramps continue.
2. Heat Exhaustion. (The first five symptoms occur often, the others sometimes).
Symptoms. Profuse sweating with pale, moist, cool skin; headache; weakness; dizziness; toss of appetite; heat cramps; nausea (with or without vomiting); urge to defecate; chills (gooseflesh); rapid breathing; tingling of the hands or feet; confusion.
First Aid: Move the casualty to a cool or shady area; send for medical assistance; loosen clothing; pour water on the casualty and fan him; have the casualty slowly drink at least a quart of cool water; elevate the casualty's legs; watch the casualty until medical help arrives.
3. Heat Stroke. Heat Stroke must be considered a medical emergency which may result in DEATH if treatment is delayed. Cooling measures must be started at once and continued until the casualty is evacuated by emergency medical services.
Symptoms. Red (flushed), hot, dry skin (sweating has stopped); headache; dizziness; nausea (stomach pain); confusion; weakness; loss of consciousness; seizures; weak, rapid pulse and breathing
First Aid. Move the casualty to a Cool or shady area; send for emergency medical services; loosen clothing; either immerse the casualty in water (keeping his head up) or pour water on the casualty and fan him; massage the casualty's aims and legs; elevate the casualty's legs; if the casualty is conscious, have the casualty slowly drink at least a quart of cool water; watch the casualty until emergency medical services arrive.
Notice the word cool - ice, ice cold water or immersion in ice water or pouring ice water on a heat casualty will cause - at the minmum, cramps and vomiting - at the worst, shock (which can lead to death PDQ).
So, if the justification for ice and coolers is for heat casualties, that's like having gasoline on hand to douse fires.
Now, I have been a heat casualty. In the summer of 1975 I was a heat exhaustion casualty at Fort Bragg, NC. I blacked out. My fellow soldiers placed me in the shade, loosened my clothing, elevated my feet, and poured a five gallon can of water on me. That water was just sitting in the shade on that 99 degree 99% humidity day. It felt like alpine glacier water on my super-heated body. After an hour's rest supervised by a medic, I was on my feet.
Mike Murley
aka Cap'n Stumpy of the Rowdy Pards
mailto:[email protected]
RP Home page: www.geocities.com/rowdy_pards/
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I thought everyone should know this. I found it useful...not just because I'm in the medical aspect of the hobby but for everyday use. I hope everyone, especially you guys, watch out for the heat and keep yourselves hydrated. Anyway, talk to ya later!
