Environmental Emergencies & Rescue Techniques Flashcards

During an avalanche search, a rescue dog alerts on a specific location. The first probe strike confirms burial. Rescuers should begin digging:

Answer: Downslope of the strike point to intercept the victim

Digging downslope from the probe strike uses gravity to remove snow efficiently and creates a working platform at the victim's level.

Which altitude illness requires immediate descent as its definitive treatment, even if pharmacological therapy temporarily improves symptoms?

Answer: High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)

HAPE is life-threatening and descent is the definitive treatment; medications like nifedipine are bridging measures, not substitutes for descent.

A mountain biker is struck by lightning and is found pulseless. Bystanders are hesitant to touch him fearing residual electrical charge. The OEC technician should:

Answer: Begin CPR immediately; lightning victims carry no residual charge

Lightning victims do not carry electrical charge and are safe to touch immediately; early CPR is the priority as cardiac arrest is survivable.

When treating a snakebite with significant local swelling and tissue discoloration, the OEC technician should mark the advancing border of swelling with a pen and:

Answer: Note the time at each mark to track progression rate

Tracking the rate of swelling progression by marking borders and noting times helps hospital providers assess envenomation severity and antivenom dosing.

A patient's fingers are deeply frostbitten and the evacuation will take 8 hours. Rewarming in the field is appropriate ONLY if:

Answer: There is no risk of refreezing during transport

Tissue that is thawed and then refreezes sustains far more damage than tissue that remains frozen during evacuation; rewarm only when refreezing is impossible.

During a high-angle litter rescue, the term 'belay' refers to:

Answer: A safety system that arrests a fall if the main line fails

A belay is a separate safety line managed independently from the haul system, designed to catch the load if the haul line or hardware fails.

A dehydrated marathon runner collapses and is confused at the finish line in hot weather. Before giving fluids, the OEC technician should prioritize:

Answer: Checking blood glucose with a glucometer

Hypoglycemia is a common, rapidly reversible cause of confusion in endurance athletes and must be ruled out before attributing altered mental status to heat illness.