Emergency care

Question 1

Your Role in the EMS System

Answer 1

1. Recognize that an emergency exists
2. Decide to act 3. Call the local emergency telephone
   number for help (911)
3. Provide care until help arrives

Question 2

Good Samaritan Laws

Answer 2

This law requires that you use common sense & a reasonable level of skill (not exceeding the scope of your training)

protects rescuer, from being sued & found
financially responsible for the victim’s injury.

Question 3

reasonable & prudent Actions under the Good Samaritan Law

Answer 3

Not move a victim unless the victim’s life was in danger

Ask a conscious victim for permission before
giving care

Summon professional help to the scene (911)

Continue to provide care until trained help arrives

Question 4

Patients Rights

Answer 4

competent patient has the right to decide what medical
care s/he will receive.

Informed consent

Implied consent: Presumes that unconscious or
mentally impaired people

Question 5

2 categories of 911 Emergency cases

Answer 5

IMMEDIATE Life Threatening situation

POTENTIAL Life Threats (serious illness)

Question 6

List some IMMEDIATE Life Threatening situations

Answer 6

• Loss of Consciousness or alteration of consciousness??
• Blocked Airway?
  – Signs of an MI? – Breathing?
  – Pulse?
  – Severe Bleeding?
  – Signs of an MI?

Question 7

List some POTENTIAL Life Threats (serious illness) situations.

Answer 7

– Signs of Shock? alteration 
– Internal/Severe Bleeding? 
– Signs of Stroke? 
– Signs of an MI? – Passing Blood/CSF? 
– Poisoned?
– Seizure?
– Severe HA/Pain? 
- Injury  to head/neck-
neurologic signs/deficits?
Paralysis?

Question 8

What is CAB?

Answer 8

COMPRESSIONS- CPR 30:2
AIRWAY
BREATHING- Give 2 slow breaths every 5-6 secs in adults and every 3-5 in infants & children

Question 9

BLS

Answer 9

Basic life support

Question 10

CHILD/INFANT & you are ALONE

Answer 10

Shout for help & CHECK the victim
• If no one comes & the victim is not breathing or does
not have a pulse:

UNWITNESSED collapse, give 1 minute of CPR
care or rescue breathing before you leave to call 911.

WITNESSED collapse, call 911 first, then care

Question 11

What is the Basic Victim Assessment?

Answer 11

(Preform in order)
1. PRIMARY Survey
- immediate life
threatening  situations 
- Usually  unconscious  or unresponsive 
-Basic Life Support (BLS) 
– CAB’s (CPR/AED)

2. SECONDARY Survey (conscious)
   - looking for
   Potential Life threats
   - Usually conscious or semi-conscious - Provide first aid or transport

Question 12

Sudden illness WARNING SIGNS to watch for

Answer 12

• Alteration of Consciousness
• Breathing Difficulty
• Chest Pain:

Cardiac arrest, Paralysis/sudden weakness, stroke - could have other sx

Severe Bleeding &/or Pain &/or Deformity

Unable to feel or move a limb or body part (History of an Illness) - person can be unaware

Question 13

Early sx of heart attack

Answer 13

• pressure in center of chest
• pain in shoulders, neck or arms
• chest discomfort w/ fainting, sweating or nausea

Question 14

Level of Consciousness

Answer 14

#1 indicator:  patients ability  to answer questions appropriately 
(person, place, time, & event)

AVPU Scale for LOC ( level of consciousness)

Question 15

AVPU Scale for LOC

Answer 15

A- Alert
V- Responds to VERBAL stimulus
P- Responds to PAINFUL stimulus
U- Unresponsive

Question 16

The “WHAM” Interview

Answer 16

• What?
  • Hurt?/ History? • Allergies?
  • Medications

Question 17

Serious illnesses Diabetic Emergency

Answer 17

• drunk look

- ketone breath smell

Question 18

Serious illnesses Seizure

Answer 18

Periatel lobe: confused, not answering questions

Question 19

Secondary Victim Assessment:

Answer 19

• WHAM Interview & evaluate Level of Consciousness
• Skin
• Pupil size
• Ability to Feel/ reaction to pain
• Ability to Move
• Vitals
• Systematic “Head to Toe Evaluation” as needed

Question 20

Heart Attack sx

may experience any or all

Answer 20

Uncomfortable pressure, fullness or squeezing pain in
the center of the chest
• Prolonged pain in the upper abdomen
• Discomfort or pain spreading beyond the chest to the
shoulders, neck/jaw/back pain, teeth, or one or both arms
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness, dizziness,
fainting
• Sweating or Nausea

Question 21

Heart Attacks in Women

Answer 21

• 52% of women are likely to have 15-min delay in calling 911 for treatment
• 42% of women who have them die within 1y (24% of men die within 1year)

Question 22

Women’s sx prior to HA

Answer 22

70% unusual fatigue 
48% sleep disturbance
42% shortness of breath 
39% Indigestion
35% Anxiety

Question 23

Women’s sx during HA

Answer 23

58% shortness of breath 
55% Weakness
43% Unusual  fatigue
39% Cold sweat
39% Dizziness

Question 24

Women: MIs

Answer 24

• Less than 30% reported
  having chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks
• 43% reported have no chest pain during any phase of the
  attack.