Heart Attack/Stoke
What are the two medications you can give a heart attack victim who is responsive and able to swallow?
Nitroglycerin or aspirin
15-20 grams glucose (sugar, glucose tablets, hard candy, juice, soda)
When checking a person for potential fractures, what do you look for?
DOTS - deformities, open wounds, tenderness, swelling
This is a form of a traumatic brain injury that results from a blow, jolt, or bump to the head
Concussion
You can apply a tourniquet to which parts of the body?
Arm or leg only
Who is more likely to exhibit less acute symptoms of heart attack hours or even days before the event?
Women and older adults
Name two potential causes of seizures:
Epilepsy, head injury, brain tumor, stroke, heat stroke, poisoning (including alcohol and drugs), diabetic emergency, high fever
When dealing with broken bones, name one circumstance under which you'd need to call 9-1-1.
Open wound (compound fracture)
Suspected femur or pelvic bone fracture
Explain why recognizing a concussion can be difficult
Often adrenaline can mask concussion symptoms for a period of time after a trauma, x-rays often cannot detect signs of a concussion, and concussion symptoms can be mistaken for something else or hard to explain.
If you apply a dressing and pressure to an open wound, and the bleeding does not stop within 5-10 minutes, what should you do next?
Apply another dressing over the first, and apply pressure over a wider area.
What does the mnemonic device FAST (used to check for a possible stroke) stand for?
F - face drooping
A - arm weakness
S - speech difficulty
T - time to call 9-1-1
Why would you not give insulin to someone experiencing hypoglycemia (or if you are unsure if they are experiencing hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia)?
Because if you give insulin lowers blood sugar, and giving insulin to someone suffering from low blood sugar can be fatal - never guess.
What is the device called that we use to stabilize broken bones and dislocations before moving a person?
Splint
What are 2 conditions where you would HAVE to move a victim even if you suspect a head, neck, or spinal injury?
Scene is unsafe
Victim is not breathing and requires CPR
Injury happened in water
To control life-threatening bleeding
What is important to note when applying a tourniquet? Why?
The time the tourniquet was applied. It's important to note because cutting off blood and oxygen to areas of the body causes the healthy tissues to die.
Why would you not give someone who you suspect is having a stroke anything to eat or drink?
Because the throat can become paralyzed, which can lead to choking.
Name two reasons that you would call 9-1-1 for a seizure:
Seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes
Series of seizures back to back
Breathing difficulty
Victim has diabetes or is pregnant
Seizure happened in water
This is the victim's first time having a seizure
The seizure is related to an injury
Slow recovery
This is the term for a broken bone that punctures the skin
Compound fracture
Name three signs/symptoms that might lead you to suspect a skull fracture:
Pain
Deformity
Bleeding or leaking clear fluid from ear or nose
Discoloration (bruising) around eyes or behind ears
Unequally-sized pupils
Heavy scalp bleeding
Penetrating or impaled object
Name the four things that we should do after we are able to control bleeding from an open wound.
1. Care for the wound (apply antibiotic cream, apply bandage, etc)
2. Dispose (properly) any gloves or blood-contaminated clothing or other items
3. Wash your hands
4. Seek professional care for wound cleaning, sutures, or a tetanus shot.
Why are the effects of a stroke permanent?
Brain cells do not regenerate or heal.
Insulin is a hormone that helps sugar enter the body's cells. Where is insulin produced?
The pancreas
If EMS is delayed or you are transporting a person a long distance, you can use this procedure to provide temporary relief.
RICE - rest, ice, compress, elevate
After suffering from a concussion, name four things that a person should do to aid the healing process
Avoid visual and sensory stimuli
Get lots of sleep
Avoid strenuous physical activity
Avoid anything that could cause another blow to the body
Take acetaminophen for headaches - not ibuprofen or aspirin
What is the first thing you need to do when trying to control bleeding?
Expose the wound (so you know exactly how large/deep the wound is, and can keep the wound clear or clothing and other debris while treating)