Policies
A patient is actively seizing for more than 5 min. What class of medication should be administered.
What is benzodiazepine?
This rhythm is characterized by a regular rhythm, upright p waves, and a rate of 60-100bpm.
What is Normal Sinus Rhythm?
A patient with a severe asthma exacerbation has a ”shark fin” capnography waveform. What does this waveform indicate?
What is bronchospasm/airflow obstruction?
Vaginal bleeding during the third trimester accompanied by painless, bright red blood is most commonly associated with this condition.
What is placenta Previa?
Clear fluid draining from a patient’s nose after head trauma may indicate what type of injury?
What is a basilar skull fracture?
A patient with symptomatic bradycardia has a heart rate of 30bpm, altered mental status, and hypotension. What med should be administered first?
What is Atropine?
This lethal rhythm appears as chaotic, disorganized electrical activity with no identifiable QRS complexes.
What is V-Fib?
During intubation, the tube passes through the vocal cords, bilateral breath sounds are present, and capnography shows a sustained waveform. What is considered the most reliable confirmation of tube placement?
What is continuous waveform capnography?
A pregnant patient presents with severe abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and a rigid abdomen. EMS should suspect this obstetrical emergency.
What is placental abruption?
A unilateral dilated pupil following head trauma may indicate this life-threatening condition.
What is increased intracranial pressure/herniation?
A patient is found unresponsive with pinpoint pupils and a respiratory rate of 4. After receiving nalodone, the patient awakens and becomes combative. What is the primary goal of near an administration?
What is restoring adequate respirations, not necessarily full consciousness?
This rhythm is often described as “irregularly irregular”
What is A-Fib?
CPAP improves oxygenation in patients with pulmonary edema by creating positive pressure in the airways. What effect does this have on the alveoli?
What is it recruits and keeps alveoli open, increasing surface area for gas exchange?
A prolapsed umbilical cord is identified during labor. What is the EMS provider’s immediate priority?
Relieve pressure from the cord by manually elevating the presenting part.
This type of bleeding occurs between the skull and dura mater and is often associated with a middle meninges artery injury.
What is an epidural hematoma?
A patient with severe asthma is becoming exhausted despite nebulized albuterol and ipratropium. What medication may be considered to help reverse bronchospasm?
What is EPI?
ST elevation in leads ll, lll, and aVF suggests infarction of this area of the heart.
What is inferior wall?
A patient in respiratory distress has a blood pressure of 78/42mmHg. Although CPAP may improve their breathing, why is CPAP generally contraindicated in this patient?
What is because CPAP increases intrathoracic pressure, which can decrease venous return and worsen hypotension?
A pregnant patient at 34 weeks presents with hypertension, headache, visual disturbances, and edema. EMS should suspect this condition.
What is preeclampsia?
Cushing‘s Triad consists of hypertension, bradycardia, and this third finding.
What is irregular respirations?
A patient in severe respiratory distress from pulmonary edema is hypertensive with a blood pressure of 220/120. What medication may be administered to reduce preload and improve symptoms?
What is nitroglycerin?
This electrolyte abnormality commonly causes peaked T waves.
What is Hyperkalemia?
You intubate a patient and obtain an ETCO2 of 55mmHg with a normal waveform. The patient is hypotensive and has a suspected pulmonary embolism. Why might ETCO2 interpretation be misleading in this situation?
Because severe ventilation-perfusion mismatch can alter ETCO2 values despite correct tube placement.
Pregnant patients beyond approximately 20 weeks gestation are often treated differently during transport and resuscitation. What physiological change requires left uterine displacement or left lateral positioning, and why?
What is compression of the inferior vena cava by the enlarged uterus, which can reduce venous return, decrease cardiac output, and cause maternal and fetal compromise?
A patient with decorticate posturing demonstrated abnormal flex ion of the arms. This generally indicates damage above this structure.
What is the brain stem?