Poisoning & Substance Abuse
What is a poison?
A substance that can cause harm when it enters the body.
What are two signs or symptoms of child abuse?
Injuries/ bruising at various stages of healing, burns, human bites, or injuries that do not match the mechanism.
What condition occurs when the body becomes dangerously overheated?
Heatstroke.
What is the first-line treatment for most external bleeding?
Apply firm, direct pressure to the wound.
How many vertebrae do we have?
33.
What should an EMR do first when arriving at a suspected poisoning scene?
Ensure scene safety and identify possible hazards.
What is a behavioral emergency?
Patient exhibits abnormal, unacceptable behavior that cannot be tolerated by the patient themselves or by family, friends, or the community.
What is hypothermia?
A condition in which the body's core temperature falls below 95°F (35°C).
What is shock?
A life-threatening condition in which circulation fails to deliver adequate oxygenated blood to tissues.
What is a sprain?
An injury to a ligament.
What are three possible signs of an opioid overdose?
Decreased level of consciousness, slow or absent breathing, and pinpoint pupils.
Name two warning signs that a patient may become violent.
Threatening language, clenched fists, escalating agitation, pacing, or aggressive movements.
Name one sign of severe heat illness/ heatstroke.
Altered mental status, dry skin, collapse, or seizures.
What is an avulsion?
An injury in which skin or other tissue is torn away.
What should be assessed prior to and after splinting/ immobilizing injuries?
Pulse, motor, and sensation (PMS).
What is Activated Charcoal used for and how does it work?
Patients who have ingested a poisonous substance, and it binds to the substance/ through adsorption.
What are the four emotional phases of a situational crisis?
High anxiety or emotional shock, denial, anger, remorse or grief.
How should an EMR initially care for a patient with suspected hypothermia?
Prevent further heat loss, handle gently, insulate from the environment, and arrange appropriate medical care OR oxygen & blanket!
A patient has life-threatening bleeding from an extremity that does not stop with direct pressure. What may be indicated?
Tourniquet.
What is flail chest?
When three or more ribs are broken in two or more places.
What is SLUDGEM?
Salivation, Lacrimation (excessive tearing), Urination, Defecation/ Drooling, GI Upset, Emesis, Miosis (pinpoint pupils).
When is it acceptable to administer care against the patient's will?
When there is reason to believe they are a threat to themselves or others.
Why can a lightning strike be dangerous even when the patient has no obvious burns?
It can effect the elctrical activity in the heart and cause cardiac abnormalities.
A patient has an impaled object in the thigh. What should the EMR do?
Do not remove the object; control bleeding around it, stabilize it in place, and provide prompt transport.
Musculoskeletal injuries are caused by what three types of mechanism?
Direct force, indirect force, and twisting force.