You have been chosen by the medical director to give a 15-minute presentation on cold-related emergencies to a local volunteer fire department. In preparing the talk, which teaching point should you emphasize?

Question

A) Emergency responders play a critical role in caring for hypothermic patients since the most important phase of care occurs during the first 30 minutes
B) Of the two types of cold-related injuries, hypothermia or frostbite (a freezing cold injury), frostbite is more life threatening because it results in the loss of fingers, toes, arms, or legs
C) Coma or unresponsiveness in the patient with a cold-related injury is actually protective since it decreases the body's energy requirements
D) A cold-related emergency becomes critical when the body temperature falls to less than 79°F since at this point the body loses ability to regulate its temperature

Answer 1

A) Emergency responders play a critical role in caring for hypothermic patients since the most important phase of care occurs during the first 30 minutes