What
What are the differences between and closed and open fracture?
Closed fracture: bone is broken inside the skin.
Open fracture: bone breaks through the skin, higher infection risk.
Name the signs and symptoms of a gastrointestinal bleed.
Vomiting blood (coffee grounds)-Black, tarry stools
Bright red blood in the stool- Abdominal pain or cramping.
Weakness or fatigue - Dizziness or fainting.
Pale, cool, clammy skin - Rapid pulse.
A young patient is having trouble inhaling even when upright, drooling with a barking cough. What could be the cause?
An upper airway infection.
example: croup.
How do you treat an open fracture before splinting?
Without moving the bones, cover the are with a dry sterile dressing.
You have a patient that injured their head during a boxing match. They are now showing signs of confusion, complaining of a headache, difficulty concentrating, and nausea. What could be the cause?
These are symptoms of a concussion.
What are some of the signs of a stroke and what are the symptoms?
Facial droop – one side of the face may sag.
Arm weakness – one arm drifts downward when raised.
Speech difficulty – slurred or strange speech, trouble understanding.
Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side).
Sudden confusion or trouble understanding.
Name the technique used to open an airway with a suspected spinal injury.
The technique is the jaw-thrust maneuver. (sometimes called the trauma airway maneuver).
A patient is feeling dizzy, lightheaded, skin is pale, cool, and clammy. What is a valuable treatment?
Place patient on oxygen to help prevent shock.
How do you treat a massive bleed on an extremity with an arterial bleed that is not stopping with direct pressure with multiple dressings?
Place a tourniquet above the wound, toward the center of the body (proximal), about 2–3 inches above the injury. Avoid placing a tourniquet directly over a joint, as it may not apply adequate pressure and could slip.
You have a patient in a roll over crash. You have secured the airway, taken proper C-spine precautions, and a head to toe survey. What might you have found during your survey?
During your exam you should be looking for deformities, bruising, swelling with tenderness and signs of shock.
What type of mask should you wear when there is a potential airborne hazard?
An N95 mask or higher level respirator.
What are the characteristics of bizarre thinking or delusions?
Bizarre thinking or delusions are false, unrealistic beliefs that a person firmly holds despite evidence to the contrary. They are often strange, impossible, or clearly inconsistent with reality.
What are some of the signs and symptoms of a patient that needs assistance with breathing and what is the treatment?
Breathing: shallow, very rapid or very slow breathing rate, struggling to breathe.
This type of breathing indicates the patient will need a BVM to get assistance in breathing and high flow oxygen.
How should you treat a fractured extremity if the patient is in too much pain to move it for splinting?
Splint the extremity in the position found, unless there is no pulse or movement is required for transport.
Your patient has just had a seizure and is acting confused. Name this sign and how do you treat?
The patient is in the postictal stage (the brain is recovering) They will often be sleepy and confused. Keep them safe, monitor ABCs, place them on their side, and provide reassurance.
You feel cracking while palpating an extremity. What could cause this?
Crepitus is a crackling or popping feeling under the skin or in a joint.
Bone fracture – bone ends rubbing together.
Subcutaneous air – air trapped under the skin after trauma.
Name the signs and symptoms of a AAA. (Abdominal
Aortic Aneurysm.)
AAA: Sudden, severe abdominal or back pain (often described as tearing or ripping.)
Pulsating mass in the abdomen.
Low blood pressure (hypotension) if bleeding occurs.
Rapid, weak pulse - Pale, cool, clammy skin.
What should you do if threatened with physical violence when treating a patient?
Go to a safe distance and wait for assistance.
How do you treat a patient that has been exposed to strong acid on chest and arms?
Remove the chemical, flush with huge amounts of water, remove contaminated clothing, and cover the burn with a clean dry dressing.
What is a pathological fracture?
A pathological fracture is a bone that breaks because it is weakened by disease, not just from an accident.
Example: less bone mass due to age.
Give the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar):
Shakiness or tremors - Sweating (clammy skin) - Pale, cool skin-Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)-Dizziness or lightheadedness-Confusion, irritability, or anxiety - Hunger - Weakness or fatigue
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar):
Excessive thirst (polydipsia) Frequent urination - Dry mouth or skin - Fatigue or weakness - Blurred vision
Fruity-smelling breath (ketones, in diabetic ketoacidosis) Rapid breathing
How can you quickly assess a patient for signs of a stroke in the field?
Use the Cincinnati Stroke Scale:
Facial droop – Ask the patient to smile; one side of the face may not move.
Arm drift – Ask the patient to close their eyes and raise both arms; one arm may drift downward.
Speech difficulty – Ask the patient to repeat a simple sentence; speech may be slurred or incorrect.
What medical condition has symptoms of a productive cough with mucus, fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, and weakness.
Pneumonia has these signs:
Cough - Fever - Chills - Shortness of breath.
Chest pain, especially with breathing or coughing.
Weakness or fatigue Rapid breathing.
Productive cough with mucus.
How do you preserve parts of the body that have been amputated?
Wrap the amputated part in sterile gauze.
Place it in a sealed plastic bag.
Put that bag in a second container with ice and water.
Do not place the part directly on ice.
How do you rinse an eye that has been exposed with a chemical?
Hold the eye open – gently retract the eyelids.
Rinse with clean, lukewarm water – use a steady stream from the inner corner (near the nose) outward toward the outer corner. Be sure head is positioned so the water will not stream down to the unaffected eye.
Continue flushing for at least 15–20 minutes, even during transport if necessary.