Respiratory Emergencies
This abnormal breath sound is high-pitched and typically heard during expiration in patients with asthma or bronchospasm.
What is wheezing?
This classic cardiac symptom is often described as pressure, squeezing, or heaviness in the center of the chest.
What is cardiac chest pain (or angina)?
A patient suddenly has slurred speech, facial drooping on one side, and weakness in the right arm. You suspect this type of neurological emergency.
What is a stroke (CVA – cerebrovascular accident)?
You arrive to find a 45-year-old male sitting upright, speaking clearly, and complaining of chest tightness. His airway is open, breathing is adequate, and radial pulses are present. After forming your general impression, this is the NEXT step in the primary assessment.
What is assessing mental status (AVPU)?
During your primary assessment, this pulse oximetry reading generally indicates adequate oxygenation in most patients.
What is 94% or higher SpO₂?
This occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked, causing tissue damage or death.
What is a myocardial infarction (MI)?
You arrive to find a patient on the floor actively shaking. They are unresponsive but breathing. Your immediate EMT action includes this first step.
What is ensure a safe environment and protect the patient from injury?
You respond to a 72-year-old female found supine and unresponsive. She is breathing at 8 times per minute with shallow respirations and snoring sounds are heard. Your partner prepares oxygen while you perform THIS intervention first.
What is opening the airway using a head-tilt chin-lift (or jaw thrust if trauma suspected)?
When administering oxygen to a COPD patient with respiratory distress, EMTs should use this device to deliver controlled, low-concentration oxygen.
What is a nasal cannula?
Before assisting a patient with their prescribed nitroglycerin, EMTs must first check this vital sign to ensure it is not too low.
What is blood pressure?
A patient fell from a ladder and hit their head. They are drowsy, have a headache, and vomited once. You monitor for this life-threatening complication.
What is increased intracranial pressure (ICP) or traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
A 28-year-old patient was involved in a motorcycle crash. During your primary assessment, you note a large amount of bright red blood spurting from the patient’s leg. This becomes your immediate priority.
What is controlling life-threatening bleeding?
This respiratory condition occurs when air enters the pleural space and causes severe respiratory distress along with hypotension and tracheal deviation.
What is a tension pneumothorax?
This device analyzes heart rhythms and delivers a shock when indicated for certain lethal arrhythmias.
What is an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)?
A diabetic patient is confused, sweating, and complaining of weakness. You suspect a neurological problem caused by this metabolic issue.
What is hypoglycemia?
A 60-year-old female complains of sudden abdominal pain. She tells you the pain began after dinner and has steadily worsened over two hours. This information corresponds to THIS part of the OPQRST assessment.
What is Onset?
For a patient with severe respiratory distress who is breathing inadequately, EMTs should immediately assist ventilations using this device connected to high-flow oxygen.
What is a bag-valve mask (BVM)?
A patient with chest pain becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally; this is the EMT’s immediate first action.
What is begin CPR and apply the AED?
A patient presents with sudden, severe headache described as “the worst ever,” neck stiffness, and photophobia. As an EMT, you recognize this could indicate a serious neurological emergency requiring rapid transport.
What is a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)?
You are transporting a 50-year-old diabetic patient who was initially alert with a blood glucose of 62 mg/dL after oral glucose administration. Five minutes later, the patient becomes confused and diaphoretic again. This step of patient assessment must be performed immediately.
What is reassessment (repeat primary assessment and vital signs)?