Chapter 9 Flashcards
Obtaining vital signs and a medical history (36 cards)
Sign
something an EMT can see or observe or that has a value that can be recorded
ex: skin color, bruise, blood pressure
Symptom
It is experienced and described by the patient (you cannot physically see it)
ex: headache, dizziness, pain
Vital sings include these 5 things
respirations, pulse, blood pressure, skin signs, pupils
Baseline vital signs
the very 1st set of vital signs obtained on a patient
When can you consider vital signs to be trending?
when you have muttiple sets of vital signs (2+)
What is a normal respiratory rate (per minute) for an adult
12-20
What is a normal respiratory rate (per minute) for a 1-5 year old
20-30
What is a normal respiratory rate (per minute) for a 0-5 month year old
25-40
Tidal Volume
The amount of air moved in and out with each breath
(it is assessed by observing chest rise and fall)
What are the 7 common pulse points on the body?
carotid, brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, dorsalis pedis, posterior
Where is the carotid pulse?
anterior neck
Where is the brachial pulse?
anterior elbow AND inside of the upper arm
Where is the radial pulse?
lateral part of the anterior wrist
Where is the femoral pulse?
Deep in the groin
(between the hip and the inside of the upper leg)
Where is the popliteal pulse?
posterior aspect of the knee
Where is the Dorsalis Pedis?
anterior/dorsal foot
Where is the posterior tibial pulse?
boney part of the ankle
Palpation
examining by feeling with the hands
What is a normal pulse rate (per minute) for an adult?
60-100
What is a normal pulse rate (per minute) for a newborn?
120-160
Bradycardia
a pulse rate below 60 bpm
Tachycardia
a pulse rate greater than 100 bpm
Auscultation (hearing)
The technique used to listen for pulse sounds when obtaining blood pressure
Systolic reading (blood pressure)
pressure inside the artery each time the heart’s left ventricle contracts
It is the number on top of the blood pressure reading
