EMS Flashcards
This deck covers Chapters 190-193 in Rosens, compromising all of EMS.
Outline differences in the management of hypothermic arrest
- Pulse checks last 30 seconds
- Max 3 shocks until temp >30 degrees
- No IV medications until temp >30
- Some say epi x3 max
- Actively rewarm
What are the medical TOR guidelines for BLS vs ALS crew?
BLS
- Unwitnessed by EMS
- No ROSC
- No shock delivered
ALS
- Unwitnessed by EMS
- No ROSC
- No shock delivered
- Unwitnessed by bystander
- No bystander CPR
What are 6 characteristics of an ‘ideal’ hemostatic agent?
- Easy to use
- Non-perishable
- Flexible
- Durable
- Cheap
- Effective
- Adheres to wound only
- No tissue damage
- No disease risk
List 5 indications for cardiac monitoring post lightning strike
- Cardiac arrest
- ECG changes
- Dysrhythmia
- Chest pain
- CAD
- Cardiac RF
- LoC
- Significant injury
- Hypoxia
- Conductive injury
List 3 drugs used to assist treatment in internal radioactive contamination
- Prussian blue
- DTPA
- Potassium iodide
- Penicillamine
Describe 4 levels of PPE
- Level A
- Maximum resp/skin protection
- Self-contained breathing system + full suit
- Level B
- Maximum resp/moderate skin protection
- Air purifier, full face mask chemical resistant suit
- Level C
- Moderate resp/skin protection
- Respirator filter + chemical resistant suit
- Level D
- Minimal resp/skin protection
- Routine
List 3 types of anthrax and 2 treatment options
Types
- Inhalational (most lethal - 50%)
- Cutaneous
- GI
Treatment
- Doxycycline
- Ciprofloxacin
What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
- Epidemic = incidence higher than expected
- Pandemic = infectious epidemic across a continent
Define tactical emergency medical support (TEMS)
TEMS is the specialty of EMS established to maintain safety, health, and welfare for combat medical units and special operations civilian law enforcement units
List and describe the 3 components of the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) (Clawson’s System)
-
Chief Complaint Protocol
* The ‘card’ -
Determinant Code
* Type of response -
Pre-arrival instructions
* CPR, deliver baby, recovery position
How do nerve gases work?
AChEi
List 9 elements of surge capacity response
- Staff/Stuff/Space
- Triage/Treat/Transport
- Defer/Decant/Deflect
What are the 3 goals of Tactical Combat & Casualty Care?
What are the 3 distinct phases that TCCC is divided into?
How is the combat area divided in a TEMS mission?
TCCC
- Treat the casualty
- Prevent additional casualties
- Complete the mission
Phases
- Care under fire
- Tactical field care
- Casualty evacuation
Zones
- Hot zone (imminent threat)
- Warm zone
- Cold zone (no threat)
What is the SALT Triage System?
SALT
- Sort - Walk (3rd) vs Wave (2nd) vs Still (1st)
- Assess - Breathing? Coma? Bleeding? Peripheral pulse?
- Life-saving Intervention - PTX, Airway, Pressure
- Treat/Transport
List 6 indications for air transport
- Distance is too far
- Critical condition
- Time-sensitive condition
- Transport delay with ground EMS
- Critical care paramedics needed
- Inaccessible to ground EMS
- Ground EMS unavailable
- Physician requests interfacility transport by air
- Scene medical transport needed
List 6 conditions a search and rescue team can be used for
- Hypothermia
- Crush injuries
- Inhalation injuries
- Haz-mat exposure
- Blast injuries
- Compartment syndrome
What are the 4 components of the START triage system?
- Walking
- Respiration rate (>30 vs <30)
- Radial pulse (yes, cap refill < 2s)
- Mental status
30:2: CAN DO
What 3 elements would make you suspect bioterrorism?
- Many patients at once
- Geographic locality
- Similar presentations (Respiratory/GI/CNS symptoms)
- Dead animals
- Increased case mortality
Name of the 6 elements of the AHA Chain of Survival
- Recognition & Activation
- Early high-quality CPR
- Early Defib
- ACLS
- Post-arrest Care
- Recovery
How would you prepare your patient for air transport?
- Chest tube for PTX
- Fill Foley/ETT with water
- NG to decompress the stomach
- Intubate if CNS/Resp symptoms may deteriorate
- Usual critical care equipment/monitors
How do you manage a patient with internal contamination with radioactive material?
- Isolation
- Blocking agent = KI
- Collect all bodily fluids
- Chelating agent = DTPA
- Radioactivity monitoring
- Supportive care
What are the 4 steps in the field trauma triage guidelines?
- Vitals
- Anatomy
- Mechanism
- Special circumstances