Welcome to the Danger Zone
The first part of any patient assessment process upon arriving to a call
What is scene size-up?
This is defined as the force that produced the injury, its intensity, and direction
What is mechanism of injury?
The procedure in which you restrict movement of the head, neck, and spine when spinal injury is possible or likely
What is spinal motion restriction?
Name the two maneuvers to open the airway
Head-tilt, chin-lift and jaw-thrust maneuver
Blood pressure is measured as:
What is mmHg (millimeters of mercury)?
Name the five sources of potential violence
1. Fighting or loud voices
2. Weapons visible or in use
3. Signs of alcohol or other drug use
4. Unusual silence
5. Knowledge of prior violence
The three collisions in a motor-vehicle crash
1. Vehicle collision (when the vehicle strikes an object)
2. Body collision (when the person's body strikes the interior of the vehicle)
3. Organ collision (when the person's organs strike interior surfaces of the body)
Name the two patient positions that indicate obvious signs of distress
What are the tripod position and Levine's sign?
During the primary assessment, what are the only three possible results of the pulse check that you'll be looking for?
This is defined as the pressure remaining in the arteries when the left ventricle of the heart is relaxed and filling.
What is diastolic blood pressure?
Types of PPE available on an ambulance at all times
Gloves, surgical mask, N-95 or high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirator, eye protection, surgical gown, head protection, bulletproof vest, turnout coat, extrication gloves, and an ANSI reflective vest
In this head-on collision pattern, the patient’s body follows a pathway down and under the steering wheel, typically striking the knees on the dash, causing knee, leg, and hip injuries
What is the down-and-under pattern?
Experienced EMTs identify serious trauma to these areas as injuries that can cause airway problems, profound shock, or death.
What are traumas to the head, neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis?
Name all aspects of each component of the ABCs that are assessed during the primary assessment.
A: Is the airway open? Is the airway patent?
B: Is the patient breathing? Is the breathing adequate?
C: Does the patient have a pulse? What is the skin CTC? What is the capillary refill time? Is there any gross major bleeding?
Name eight vital signs that can be measured with concrete numbers:
What are pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, pupils, temperature, blood glucose, temperature, and pulse oximetry?
This is defined as maintaining the awareness there may be other injuries
What is index of suspicion?
Name the three primary means of determining a patient's nature of illness
Patient, family members or bystanders, the scene
Finding this will lead to your primary assessment being more aggressive because of a higher potential for life-threatening problems, including vomitus or secretions in the airway and the need for ventilation.
What is altered mental status?
The AHA recommends changing the approach of ABCs to this for patients who appear lifeless and are apparently not breathing or have only agonal respirations.
What is C-A-B?
This is defined as a testing method that tells us indirectly how well the tissues are using oxygen (and performing other physiologic functions) by measuring the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled, called end-tidal carbon dioxide, or ETCO2.
What is capnography?
1. Checking scene safety
2. Taking standard precautions
3. Noting the MOI/NOI
4. Determining number of patients
5. Requesting additional resources
Explain the two ways bullets cause damage.
1. Damage directly from the projectile which depends on the size of the bullet, its path, and whether it fragments.
2. Pressure-related damage or cavitation, the energy or pressure wave which causes a temporary cavity considerably greater than the size of the bullet that may damage items in its path
Recognizing signs of anxiety, skin pallor, and diaphoresis at the earliest possible moment will help you to identify this potentially serious condition early.
What is shock?
In order from most severe to least severe, list the four general situations that calls for breathing assistance.
1. Patient is in respiratory arrest with a pulse
2. Patient is not alert and breathing is inadequate with insufficient minute volume due to decreased rate and/or depth
3. Patient is somewhat alert and breathing is inadequate
4. Patient's breathing is adequate but there are signs suggesting respiratory distress or hypoxia
The formal name - with spelling - of a blood pressure cuff
What is sphygmomanometer (s-p-h-y-g-m-o-m-a-n-o-m-e-t-e-r)?