EMT Decisions
Before touching blood, use these precautions, including gloves and splash protection when needed.
What are standard precautions/PPE?
This medical term means bleeding.
What is hemorrhage?
Blood loss that occurs inside the body is called this.
What is internal bleeding?
Severe blood loss can cause this type of shock by reducing circulating volume.
What is hypovolemic shock?
For an accessible external wound, press firmly over the bleeding site using this technique.
What is direct pressure?
During your initial assessment, you find massive external bleeding. This action takes priority over obtaining a detailed history.
What is immediate bleeding control?
This bleeding typically oozes slowly from a scraped surface. (abrasion)
What is capillary bleeding?
A steering wheel strikes a patient’s abdomen without breaking the skin. This is the type of trauma involved.
What is blunt trauma?
This pulse change commonly occurs as the body tries to compensate for blood loss.
What is tachycardia, or a rapid pulse?
Life-threatening arm or leg bleeding continues despite direct pressure. Apply this device.
What is a tourniquet?
Repeat vital signs, mental status, and bleeding checks is done often in an unstable patient. but HOW often?
What is every five minutes?
This bleeding typically produces a steady flow of darker red blood.
What is venous bleeding?
The liver and spleen belong to this organ group, which can bleed heavily when injured.
What are solid organs?
These three skin findings commonly accompany hemorrhagic shock.
What are pale, cool, and clammy skin?
When the wound is visible, a tourniquet generally goes this far above it, avoiding joints.
What is 2–3 inches above the wound?
A patient with suspected internal bleeding needs this transport priority after immediate life threats are addressed.
transport priority after immediate life threats are addressed.What is rapid transport to an appropriate hospital?
This bleeding may be bright red and spurt with the heartbeat.
What is arterial bleeding?
A patient vomits blood without any injury. This is a possible nontraumatic source of blood loss.
What is gastrointestinal bleeding?
Restlessness and confusion during blood loss may indicate inadequate perfusion of this organ.
What is the brain?
A deep groin wound is bleeding heavily where a standard limb tourniquet cannot be applied. Use this technique with gauze and firm pressure.
What is wound packing?
A bleeding patient has an SpO₂ of 98%. This serious condition still cannot be ruled out because pulse oximetry does not measure circulating blood volume.
What is hemorrhagic shock!?
This medical term means a nosebleed.
What is epistaxis?
A pelvic fracture patient becomes pale, confused, and tachycardic despite little visible blood. Suspect this dangerous complication.
What is internal hemorrhage with shock?
A bleeding patient’s BP is still normal, but the pulse is rapid and skin is cool. The body may be maintaining pressure during this stage.
What is compensated shock?
An alert patient with a simple nosebleed should lean this direction while you pinch the soft part of the nose.
What is forward?