CPR Basics
What is the compression to breath ratio for one person CPR for all age ranges?
All are the same: 30:2
Once you get the AED, what is the first thing you should do?
Turn it on and listen for the prompts.
AED's can want pads first or plug first depending on the model.
It will also remind you when it is analyzing, and when shock is advised so everyone is a safe distance.
Give some examples on how to describe the quality of a pulse you are assessing?
Strong irregular
Bounding Weak
Thready regular
How long does it take the brain deprived of oxygen for brain damage to begin.
Depending on the book you use, approximately 4 to 6 minutes
You have a patient lodged in a tight space that does not have a pulse. What is your next step?
Quickly drag him to a surrounding that will allow good compressions to be utilized and preferably enough space for outside help to contribute.
How long should taking a pulse and breathing take?
It should take from 5 to 10 seconds. Never any longer than 10 seconds
Do you compress on the chest of a child any differently depending on age?
Chest compressions on a child can be done one-handed or two-handed. You should be aware of your strength and the size of the child.
Child CPR is often done with two hands with larger children, and with one had with smaller children.
Describe the meaning of the medical words: Sign and Symptom
Sign: Is something you can see about your patient.
i.e. Blue around the lips
Symptom: Something the patients shares with you about their condition.
i.e. My head feels like it is going to explode.
Why do we give aspirin for chest pain.
Oops, if you thought it was to help with the pain that is not quite right. We give aspirin because it makes the platelets less likely to clot. Not for pain.
You have an injured patient that does not seem to be maintaining their airway. You are having difficulty in finding any pulse. What do you do?
Start chest compressions and rescue breathes. Get an AED as soon as possible to help aid in determining rhythm.
If possible, get assistance to do a trauma airway maneuver since the victim was injured and could have a potential C-Spine injury..
How do you find the correct hand position on an adult?
Use your forefinger and run it across the nipple line of the patient. Using that as a guide, place one hand on that position followed by your other hand.
You need to be at the center of the chest, on the lower half of the sternum. It is important you stay on the lower half of the sternum but do not get too close to the ziphoid process (if that bone breaks it could cause internal injury)
If a child is choking, can you assist without a parents permission?
Yes, if there is no adult you would be covered by implied consent. There is an assumption that the parent would want their child to be treated.
What is the systolic and diastolic measurement?
It represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and relaxes.
What is the sign that lets us know that a patient needs Narcan?
The patient will present with inadequate breathing. Since it is often an opioid overdose, they could also have pinpoint pupils.
You have arrived at a home with no visible signs of hazard. Upon entering you notice that the family is unconscious. What can this be and why is it important to recognize.
It is potentially Carbon Monoxide. This is very dangerous because it is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. Early symptoms might be headaches or flulike which can be often dismissed.
If you are alone with an infant in cardiac arrest and do not have your phone, what is your next step?
If alone, do two minutes of CPR before going to get the phone to call 911.
Extra: With an adult with no phone available, you leave immediately to call 911.
What is the process called to open the airway of a choking conscious infant?
Five back blows
Five chest thrusts
Continue until the infant is unconscious or the object is expelled.
What does the acronyms MOI and NOI mean?
MOI: Mechanism of injury. This type of injury would be from an outside force.
NOI: Nature of illness. This is a underlying medical condition.
What must you have to be able to give any medication?
You are working under the direction of a medical director. They would need to give the approval for any medication administered.
You are running a call with no real information, what is your biggest concerns?
A good SSU should start before you reach the emergency. It helps you know what type of call you have, get gear ready, and look at options that could be life threatening of missed.
What can you do if your patient is in a bed or other soft surface to ensure you get the best chest compressions?
Patients should be put on a hard flat surface.
How do you help a conscious pregnant female who is choking if you cannot get your arms around her abdomen?
Go underneath her armpits and give thrusts straight back. It will still move the object that is trapped in her lungs to help get the object out.
What type of device is often used to help with medication that must be given intranasally?
A MAD device is an intranasal device that is often used to administer Narcan.
What is the dose of an MDI inhaler?
90 mcg
You have a patient with difficulty breathing...what drugs do you have at your disposal?
Oxygen-multiple devices available.
MDI-Metered dose inhaler
When you get to EMT a nebulizer. more to come....