The Cargo
This iron-containing protein is the primary vehicle for oxygen transport.
These small, disc-shaped cell fragments are the "first responders" that form a plug at the site of a vascular injury.
What are platelets?
A patient who has lost 15-30% of their blood volume and is tachycardic but maintaining a normal BP is in this stage of shock.
What is compensated hypovolemic/hemorrhagic shock?
In Sickle Cell Disease, RBCs change shape specifically when they are exposed to this state.
What is hypoxia?
An elevated WBC count (Leukocytosis) usually indicates this underlying process.
What is infection?
A patient with a low red blood cell count is said to have this condition, which often presents with pallor and fatigue.
What is anemia?
This common pre-hospital medication inhibits platelet aggregation, making them "less sticky."
What is aspirin?
This term describes the "Lethal Triad" of trauma: Acidosis, Coagulopathy, and this temperature-related condition.
What is hypothermia?
This is the #1 priority for a paramedic treating a patient in a Vaso-occlusive Crisis.
What is pain management?
This lab value represents the percentage of total blood volume made up of red blood cells.
What is hematocrit?
This hormone, produced by the kidneys, stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells in response to hypoxia.
What is erythropoietin?
This mesh-like protein string is the final product of the coagulation cascade, stabilizing the initial platelet plug.
What is fibrin?
Narrowing of this vital sign value (the difference between Systolic and Diastolic) is an early sign of significant internal bleeding.
What is pulse pressure?
This genetic "bleeding disorder" is characterized by a deficiency in clotting Factor VIII or IX.
What is hemophilia?
While a CBC shows an elevated WBC count, a paramedic can use this point-of-care lab value to predict if a patient is shifting from simple infection into septic shock.
What is lactic acid (lactate)?
While O2 binds to heme, most carbon dioxide (CO2) is transported in the blood in this chemical form.
What is bicarbonate (HCO3)?
This antifibrinolytic medication is used in trauma to prevent the body from breaking down clots too early.
What is tranexamic acid (TXA)?
This is the primary reason why aggressive Crystalloid (Normal Saline) administration can worsen bleeding in trauma patients.
What is dilutional coagulopathy or 'pop the clot'?
Patients with this "thick blood" disorder are at a much higher risk for MI and Stroke due to increased viscosity.
What is polycythemia?
This term refers to an abnormally low level of platelets in the blood.
What is thrombocytopenia?
This "curve" describes how easily hemoglobin lets go of oxygen; a shift to the right occurs in acidic or febrile states.
What is the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve?
This electrolyte is required at almost every step of the coagulation cascade; without it, blood will not clot.
The "Golden Hour" has largely been replaced by this 10-minute window for on-scene life-saving interventions in trauma.
What is the Platinum Ten?
This life-threatening complication of sepsis involves widespread clotting followed by uncontrollable bleeding.
What is Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)?
Administering large volumes of Normal Saline to a trauma patient causes this "lab-based" complication, where the remaining clotting factors are spread too thin to work.
What is dilutional coagulopathy?