EMT Flashcards

Question

SAMPLE

Answer 1

**S** - Signs and Symptoms **A** - Allergies **M** - Medications **P** - Past medical history **L** - Last oral intake **E** - Events leading up to the present illness or injury

Answer 2

O - **Onset**: When and how the symptoms began P - **Provocation**/**Palliation**: What makes the symptoms better or worse Q - **Quality**: Description of the symptoms (e.g., sharp, dull, burning) R - **Region**/**Radiation**: Location of symptoms and if they spread S - **Severity**: Intensity of symptoms, often on a scale of 0-10 T - **Time**: Duration of symptoms A - **Associated** **symptoms**: Other symptoms occurring alongside the main complaint

Answer 3

**Alert**: The patient is fully awake, has spontaneously open eyes, responds to voice, and has bodily motor function. **Verbal**: The patient responds to verbal stimuli, which could be as minimal as a grunt, moan, or slight movement when spoken to. **Pain**: The patient responds only to pain stimuli, such as a trapezius squeeze or other pressure-based techniques. **Unresponsive**: The patient shows no response to voice or pain stimuli.

Answer 4

*Assess and recall potential causes of altered mental status * **A** - Alcohol/Abuse of substances, Acidosis **E** - Endocrine disorders, Epilepsy, Electrolyte imbalances, Environmental factors **I** - Infection, Insulin (related to diabetes) **O** - Overdose, Oxygen deficiency **U** - Underdose, Uremia **T** - Trauma **I** - Infection (repeated for emphasis) **P** - Psychiatric conditions, Poisoning **S** - Stroke, Shock

Answer 5

shortness of breath

Answer 6

Abnormally slow breathing rate | For adults, it is typically defined as fewer than 12 breaths per minute

Answer 7

commonly known as a bruise

Answer 8

It occurs when fluid accumulates in the pericardial space, compressing the heart and impairing its ability to fill and pump blood effectively.

Answer 9

**Facial Droop:** The patient is asked to smile or show their teeth. An abnormal result is when one side of the face does not move as well as the other or doesn't move at all12. **Arm Drift:** The patient is instructed to close their eyes and hold both arms straight out in front with palms up for about 10 seconds. An abnormal result is when one arm drifts downward or cannot be raised12. **Speech Abnormality**: The patient is asked to repeat a simple phrase like "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." An abnormal result is slurred speech, incorrect words, or inability to speak12.

Answer 10

**Adults** 12 to 20 breaths per minute **Children** * Infant (0-12 months): 30-60 breaths per minute * Toddler (1-3 years): 24-40 breaths per minute * Preschooler (4-5 years): 22-34 breaths per minute * School age (6-12 years): 18-30 breaths per minute * Adolescent (13-18 years): 12-16 breaths per minute

Answer 11

**Adults** 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm) at rest **Children** * Newborns (0-1 month): 70-190 bpm * Infants (1-11 months): 80-160 bpm * Toddlers (1-2 years): 80-130 bpm * Preschoolers (3-4 years): 80-120 bpm * School-age (5-9 years): 70-110 bpm * Adolescents (10-18 years): 60-100 bpm

Answer 12

**Adults** Normal: Less than 120/80 mmHg Elevated: 120-129/less than 80 mmHg Stage 1 Hypertension: 130-139/80-89 mmHg Stage 2 Hypertension: 140 or higher/90 or higher mmHg7 **Children** * 0-28 days: Systolic BP of at least 60 mmHg * 1 month to 1 year: Systolic BP of at least 70 mmHg * 1-10 years: 70 + (2 × age in years) mmHg systolic * 10+ years: Systolic BP of at least 90 mmHg

Answer 13

**Adults** Fasting: 70-100 mg/dL (3.9-5.6 mmol/L) Before meals: 80-130 mg/dL (4.4-7.2 mmol/L) 2 hours after meals: Less than 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) **Children** * Infant (0-12 months): 40-90 mg/dL (2.2-5.0 mmol/L) * Child < 2 years: 60-100 mg/dL (3.3-5.6 mmol/L) * Child > 2 years to Adult: 70-105 mg/dL (3.9-5.8 mmol/L)

Answer 14

Normal Values: Adults: 35-45 mmHg Children: Similar to adults, but may vary slightly based on age

Answer 15

1. **Absorption**: The process by which a drug enters the bloodstream after administration. 2. **Distribution**: The movement of the drug from the bloodstream to various tissues and organs in the body. 3. **Metabolism**: The chemical transformation of the drug, usually in the liver, into active or inactive metabolites. 4. **Excretion**: The elimination of the drug and its metabolites from the body, primarily through the kidneys. 5. **Bioavailability**: The fraction of the administered dose that reaches systemic circulation unchanged.

Answer 16

Cushing's triad is a set of clinical signs that indicate increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and potential brain herniation. It consists of three key components: 1. Hypertension (especially systolic) 2. Bradycardia 3. Irregular respirations (often Cheyne-Stokes breathing)

Answer 17

is a critical cardiac emergency. Key points for EMS management of STEMI include: **Rapid Assessment:** Obtain a 12-lead ECG within 10 minutes of first medical contact for patients with suspected cardiac symptoms. **STEMI Alert Activation**: If ECG shows ST elevation ≥ 1 mm in 2 contiguous leads or machine interpretation indicates "Acute Myocardial Infarction," activate a STEMI alert. **Transport Decision**: Determine if transport time to a PCI-capable hospital is ≤ 60 minutes. If so, transport directly to the PCI facility. If not, consider transport to the nearest appropriate non-PCI hospital for possible fibrinolytic therapy1. | (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction)

Answer 18

High or Low BP Hypotension: <90/<60 mmHg Hypertension is consistently ≥130/80 mmHg

Answer 19

Typically defined as more than 100 beats per minute while at rest.

Answer 20

Typically defined as fewer than 60 beats per minute in adults

Answer 21

Hypoperfusion is a state of inadequate blood flow to organs and tissues, resulting in insufficient oxygen and nutrient delivery. Common signs and symptoms: * Tachycardia * Tachypnea * Hypotension * Cool/clammy skin * Altered mental status * Reduced urine output

Answer 22

Beck's triad is a collection of three clinical signs associated with acute cardiac tamponade: * Hypotension (low blood pressure) * Jugular venous distention (JVD) * Muffled heart sounds

Answer 23

Jugular vein distention (JVD) is a clinical sign characterized by the bulging or swelling of the jugular veins in the neck. Common causes of JVD include: * Right-sided heart failure * Left ventricular failure * Pulmonary hypertension * Tricuspid valve stenosis * Superior vena cava obstruction * Constrictive pericarditis * Cardiac tamponade * Tension pneumothorax * Pulmonary embolism

Answer 24

swelling caused by fluid buildup in bodily tissues

Answer 25

**Intravenous (IV)**: Delivers medication directly into the bloodstream for rapid onset. **Intramuscular (IM)**: Injection into muscle tissue. **Subcutaneous (SC):** Injection into the fatty tissue beneath the skin, commonly used for insulin. **Oral**: Administration by mouth, such as aspirin for suspected heart attacks. **Sublingual**: Placement under the tongue for rapid absorption, often used for nitroglycerin. **Intranasal (IN)**: Delivery through the nose using an atomizer device, used for naloxone. **Inhaled**: Administration via inhalers or nebulizers for respiratory medications. **Endotracheal**: Delivery of medication directly into the trachea through an endotracheal tube. **Intraosseous (IO)**: Injection into the bone marrow, used when IV access is difficult.

Answer 26

is a condition characterized by abnormally low extracellular fluid volume in the body, often due to blood or fluid loss

Answer 27

* Liver * Gallbladder * Right kidney * Right adrenal gland * Duodenum * Part of the stomach * Parts of ascending and transverse colon

Answer 28

* Spleen * Left kidney * Left adrenal gland * Stomach * Part of the liver * Pancreas * Parts of transverse and descending colon

Answer 29

* Cecum * Appendix * Right ovary and fallopian tube (in females) * Right ureter * Parts of small and large intestine

Answer 30

* Sigmoid colon * Left ovary and fallopian tube (in females) * Left ureter * Parts of small and large intestine

Answer 31

**Deformities**: Is there an abnormality in the shape of a body part or organ compared to the normal shape? **Contusions**: Do you notice bruising? In extreme cases, this can cause blood to seep, hemorrhage or extravasate into surrounding tissues. **Abrasions**: How severe is the abrasion? Your treatment will vary depending on the severity, but be sure to always clean and remove any debris. **Punctures/penetrations**: Penetrating trauma suggests an object didn’t pass through, while perforating trauma is associated with an entrance and exit wound. **Burns:** Treatment depends on the severity of the burn. **Tenderness:** This shouldn’t be confused with pain. Tenderness is triggered by discomfort when an affected area is touched. **Lacerations: **Treatment depends on the type, cause and depth of the wound. Minor wounds heal on their own, while puncture wounds are more prone to infection. **Swelling**: This is an abnormal enlargement of a body part or area. Swelling may occur in response to infection, injury or disease.

EMT Flashcards

(57 cards)