Emergency Care - EMT Basic Chapter 12

Question 1

outward signs of what is going on inside the body, including respiration, pulse, skin color, temperature, condition (capillary refill in infants and children), pupils, and blood pressure

Answer 1

vital signs

Question 2

the rhythmic beats felt as the heart pumps blood through the arteries

Answer 2

pulse

Question 3

What are the six vital signs?

Answer 3

1. pulse
2. blood pressure
3. respiratory
4. skin
5. pulse oximertry
6. pupils

Question 4

the number of pulse beats per minute

Answer 4

pulse rate

Question 5

what is the normal pulse rate for an adult at rest?

Answer 5

60 - 100 beats per minute

Question 6

rapid pulse rate

Answer 6

tachycardia

Question 7

slow pulse rate

Answer 7

bradycardia

Question 8

the rhythm (regular or irregular) and force (strong or weak) of the pulse

Answer 8

pulse quality

Question 9

pulse felt at the wrist

Answer 9

radial pulse

Question 10

pulse felt in the upper arm

Answer 10

brachial pulse

Question 11

pulse felt along the large carotid artery on either side of the neck

Answer 11

carotid pulse

Question 12

What two factors are you most concerned with in regard to respiration?

Answer 12

rate and quality

Question 13

the number of breaths take in one minute

Answer 13

respiratory rate

Question 14

how is respiration classified?

Answer 14

normal, rapid, or slow

Question 15

What are the normal respiration rates for an adult at rest?

Answer 15

between 12 and 20 breaths

Question 16

When must you administer high-concentration oxygen or assist ventilations in an adult?

Answer 16

When the patient is maintaining a rate above 24 (rapid) or below 8 (slow) breaths per minute

Question 17

The normal or abnormal (shallow, labored, or noisy) character of breathing.

Answer 17

respiratory quality

Question 18

What are the four categories used to describe respiratory quality?

Answer 18

1. normal
2. shallow
3. labored
4. noisy

Question 19

the regular or irregular spacing of breaths

Answer 19

respiratory rhythm

Question 20

What are the possible causes of pale skin?

Answer 20

1. constricted blood vessels possibly resulting from blood loss
2. shock
3. hypotension
4. emotional distress

Question 21

What are the possible causes of Cyanotic (blue-gray) skin color?

Answer 21

Lack of oxygen in blood cells and tissues resulting from inadequate breathing or heart function

Question 22

What are the possible causes of Flushed (red) skin?

Answer 22

exposure to heat, emotional excitement

Question 23

What are the possible causes of Jaundiced (yellow) skin color?

Answer 23

abnormalities of the liver

Question 24

What are the possible causes of Mottled (blotchy) skin?

Answer 24

occasionally patients with shock

Question 25

If the skin is cool and clammy, what may be the cause?

Answer 25

sign of shock, anxiety

Question 26

If the skin is cool and moist, what may be the cause?

Answer 26

body is losing heat

Question 27

If the skin is cold and dry, what may be the cause?

Answer 27

exposure to cold

Question 28

If the skin is hot and dry, what may be the cause?

Answer 28

high fever, heat exposure

Question 29

If the skin is hot and moist, what may be the cause?

Answer 29

high fever, heat exposure

Question 30

"Goose pimples" accompanied by shivering, chattering teeth, blue lips, and pale skin

Answer 30

chills, communicable disease, exposure to cold, pain or fear

Question 31

the black center of the eye

Answer 31

pupil

Question 32

get larger

Answer 32

dilate

Question 33

get smaller

Answer 33

constrict

Question 34

in the pupils of the eyes, reacting to light by changing size

Answer 34

reactivity

Question 35

What are the three things you should look for when checking a patients pupils?

Answer 35

1. size 2. equality 3. reactivity

Question 36

If the pupils are dilated (larger than normal), what could be the possible causes?

Answer 36

1. fright 2. blood loss 3. drugs 4. prescription eye drops

Question 37

If the pupils are constricted (smaller than normal), what could be the possible causes?

Answer 37

1. Drugs (narcotics) | 2. prescription eye drops

Question 38

If the pupils are unequal, what may be the possible causes?

Answer 38

1. stroke 2. head injury 3. eye injury 4. artificial eye 5. prescription eye drops

Question 39

If there is a lack of reactivity in the pupils, what may that mean?

Answer 39

1. Drugs | 2. lack of oxygen to the brain

Question 40

Which side of the heart contacts to force blood out into the circulation?

Answer 40

the left ventricle

Question 41

the pressure created when the heart contracts and forces blood out into the arteries

Answer 41

systolic blood pressure

Question 42

the pressure remaining in the arteries when the left ventricle of the heart is relaxed and refilling

Answer 42

diastolic blood pressure

Question 43

What might be the significance of a high blood pressure?

Answer 43

1. medical condition 2. exertion 3. fright 4. emotional distress 5. excitement

Question 44

What might be the significance of a low blood pressure?

Answer 44

1. athlete or other person with normally low blood pressure 2. blood loss 3. late sign of shock

Question 45

If an adult has a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or greater, and a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or greater, this person has _______________.

Answer 45

hypertension

Question 46

When is serious low pressure generally considered to exist?

Answer 46

When it falls below 90 mmHg

Question 47

the cuff and gauge used to measure blood pressure

Answer 47

sphygmomanometer

Question 48

What are the three techniques used to measure blood pressure?

Answer 48

1. auscultation (listening) 2. palpation (touching or feeling) 3. blood pressure monitor (machine)

Question 49

an electronic device for determining the amount of oxygen carried in the blood, known as the oxygen saturation or SpO2

Answer 49

pulse oximeter

Question 50

the ratio of the amount of oxygen present in the blood to the amount that could be carried, expressed as a percentage

Answer 50

oxygen saturation (SpO2)

Question 51

When are pulse oximeters most useful?

Answer 51

1. when evaluating the effect of an intervention you have instituted 2. alerting you to a deterioration in the patient's oxygen saturation