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First aid Flashcards

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1
Q

what is a life-threatening emergency

A
  • Respiratory distress
  • Severe bleeding
  • Collapse/unconsciousness
  • Rapid abdominal distention
  • Inability to urinate
  • Sudden onset neurological signs
  • Severe vomiting and or diarrhoea (haemorrhagic)
  • Extreme pain
  • Witnessed ingestion of toxin
  • Bone fracture
  • Dystocia
  • Prolonged seizure activity (>3-5mins)
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2
Q

owner safety for first aid

A
  • Frightened/painful pets may bite
  • Lifting large dogs
  • Driving safely
  • Oncoming traffic for RTA’s
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3
Q

what can you prepare

A

iv catheters
fluid therapy
o2 ready
crash kit
common pain relief drugs
theatre ready

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4
Q

what can you prepare- records and paper work

A
  • Prepare all the consent forms
  • Prepare the patient monitoring sheet
  • Pre-populate all patient information fields and highlight fields to be gathered
  • Write down the history gathered on the telephone
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5
Q

what is the ABC’s

A

Airways- check, pull tounge forward, remove debris using swab or suctions, Heimlich manoeuvre, intubation if needed
Breathing- check, if not shout CRASH and start CPR
Circulation, check, if no pulse shout CRASH and start CPR

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6
Q

how do I do a triage assessment/major
body system assessment

A

Cardiovascular
Respiratory
Neurological
(Others to consider: the renal system and pain)

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7
Q

what to check for in a cardiovascular assessment

A

bpm
abnormal breathing
femoral pulse, gum colour
mucous membrane
sound of the heart (heart murmurs, ect)
heart rate
the volume of the heart
capillary re-fill time
strong or weak pulse
pulse synchronies

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8
Q

what to check for a respiratory assessment

A

hypoxia/cyanosis- mucous discolouration
any abnormal noises or wheezing
respiratory rate and depth
listen for sounds in the lungs
obvious foreign bodies in the trachea
rate and depth of breathing
respiratory rate
counts per min, auscultate the chest
observe the patient’s breathing effort and pattern
percuss the chest
auscultate the chest
count the breath per minute

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9
Q

what to check for a neurological assessment

A

observe the patient’s mentation and response to the environment
check the pupils for symmetry and PLR
seizures- paplay, spacial twitching, tonic-clonic
signs of raised intracranial pressure-
- systemic hypertension
- bradycardia
- deterioration in mental status
- dilated and non-responsive pupils
- loss of physiological nystagmus
decerebrate posturing

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10
Q

what to check for in a renal assessment

A

Bladder size, pain and integrity
* Ability to urinate
* If you cannot feel the bladder, this may be because:
* The patient has recently urinated
* The bladder has ruptured

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11
Q

what history do we need to take

A
  • Age/sex/breed
  • Presenting complaint
  • Last seen normal
  • Last ate/drank/urinated
  • Vomiting/diarrhoea/coughing
  • Toxins/trauma
  • Is the condition static/progressive
  • Other conditions/medications
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12
Q

what is triage

A

a major body system assessment

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13
Q

what is primary survey

A

expands upon the major body system assessment, the
institution of quick monitoring (e.g. ECG, pulse oximetry etc.), the
identification and treatment problems that are immediately life
threatening

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14
Q

What is secondary survey

A

a full clinical examination, the collection of a
detailed clinical history, monitoring the patient’s response to therapy
and the create of a more comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic plan

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15
Q

types of o2 supplementation

A

flow by
mask
cage
nasal prongs

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16
Q

what is the regular monitoring in the secondary survey

A

Regular monitoring:
* Pulse rate and quality
* Mucous membrane colour and
CRT
* Respiratory rate and effort
* Temperature
* Demeanour
* Body weight every 12 hours

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17
Q

Signs of actual/impending arrest

A
  • Agonal gasping
  • Absence of a heartbeat, or weak and rapid pulses that slow rapidly
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Fixed dilated pupils with lack of corneal and palpebral reflex
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18
Q

cardiac compressions

A

ideally, in right lateral decumbency- barrel-chested dogs in dorsal eg. bulldogs

Rate= 100-120 compression per min

Compress approx. 30- 50% of the width/depth of the thorax

I need to be able to feel a femoral pulse for every compression!

Allow for full elastic recoil if the chest between compressions

thoracic pump vs cardiac pump approaches
large dogs- pressure at the widest point of the dog
small dogs/cats- cardiac pump, physically palpate and squeeze the heart

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19
Q

what is the breathing rate

A

20 breaths per min

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20
Q

Basic Life Support (BLS) equipment

A
  • Ambu bag/anaesthetic machine and
    circuits
  • Face mask/endotracheal tubes
  • Laryngoscope
  • Intravenous catheters
  • Recording sheet
  • Pen
  • Ideally, at least 3 people
  • Monitoring equipment e.g. ECG,
    capnograph)
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21
Q

terms of unconsciousness and what they mean

A
  • Alert
  • Depressed- still responding to enviroment
  • Obtunded- take out of stimuli to get responce
  • Unconscious
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22
Q

Collapse and unconsciousness: nursing considerations

A
  • Unconscious patients can not protect their airways, and it is vital that the airway is positioned to keep it clear
    and open.
  • Place in lateral recumbency (on the side)
  • Extend the neck gently
  • Tilt the head slightly upwards
  • Open the mouth and gently pull the tongue out through the gap between the canine and premolar teeth
  • If safe, examine the airway for
    blockages
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23
Q

Collapse and unconsciousness: equipment

Study These Flashcards
A
  • ET tubes
  • Conforming bandage
  • Oxygen supply
  • Laryngoscope
  • IV catheters
  • Mouth gag (can use a large vet wrap bandage)
  • ECG
  • Blood pressure monitor and capnograph
24
Q

what is Traumatic proptosis

Study These Flashcards
A

(displacement of the eye from the orbit

25
what is glaucoma
high intra-ocular pressure
26
what is hyphaema
blood in the front chamber of the eye
27
Ocular emergencies – nursing considerations
* Assess the whole patient and deal with major body systems abnormalities first * Prevent self trauma with an Elizabethan collar * Assess for pain > analgesia will need to be presribed * Keep the eye moist with a false tear solution or sterile saline moistened swabs * Keep the patient in a quiet, dimly lit kennel
28
what is shock
a lack of o2 and o2 consumption to the tissues
29
types of circulatory shock
HYPOVOLAEMIC CARDIOGENIC OBSTRUCTIVE DISTRIBUTIVE
30
what is Hypoperfusion/circulatory shock
a critical condition that is brought on by a sudden and global deficit in tissue perfusion, resulting in inadequate delivery of oxygen and nutrients to vital organs. (The most common cause of shock in veterinary patients
31
causes of hypovolaemic shock
fluid loss decreased in fluid intake decreased blood volume
32
examples of cardiogenic shock
* Severe arrhythmias * Diseases which adversely affect the contractility of the heart muscle * Fluid around the heart and within the pericardial sac (pericardial effusion)
33
examples of obstructive shock
* GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus) * Pericardial tamponade * Tension pneumothorax (the build-up of air around the lungs) * Pulmonary or aortic thromboembolism (blood clots)
34
what causes distributive shock
Due to maldistribution of blood flow Histamine release i.e. anaphylaxis * Generalised uncontrolled inflammatory responses due to bacterial infection (sepsis) or non-infectious insults e.g. pancreatitis, trauma, burns etc
35
First Aid Tests for Markers of Shock
* Measure blood pressure * Falls with increasing severity of shock * Measure urine output * Reduces with increasing severity of shock * Measure blood lactate * Increases with increasing severity of shock
36
Hypovolaemic Shock: Nursing Considerations
* Place an intravenous catheter asap * Intravenous fluids * Stop haemorrhage where present
37
Cardiovascular Shock: Nursing considerations
* Oxygen * Place IV catheter (care if dyspnoeic!) * ECG attached to patient * May require analgesia to calm or for aortic thromboembolism * Calm quiet environment * Ultrasound machine ready * (Get ready for pleural tap) * (Get ready for pericardial tap)
38
Obstructive shock: Nursing Considerations
* Place an intravenous catheter ASAP * Intravenous fluids * Relieve the obstruction * E.g. Pericardial effusion > prepare for pericardiocentesis * E.g. GDV > pass a stomach tube
39
examples of aural emergencies
* Aural haematoma * Aural foreign bodies * Peripheral (caused by the middle ear) vestibular disease
40
Treating hyperthermia – nursing considerations
Reduce muscular activity e.g. keeping the patient calm, stopping seizures/muscle tremors if present * Increase conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation e.g. * Wet fur or cold-water baths * Fans * Alcohol/spirit on paws * Cold water enema * Clipping of hair * Use of wet towels *Avoid cooling too rapidly > likely to lead to hypothermia * Monitor rectal temperature continuously/frequently * Stop ‘active’ cooling at 39.4 degrees C
41
Hypothermia: Nursing considerations
Insulation: * Wrap patients in bubble wrap - only suitable for patients that aren’t moving/aren’t likely to ingest Active warming: * Warming fluids to body temperature consider insulating the fluid line * Heat mats - must not leave patients that cannot move on heat mats unsupervised * Heat lamps - do not use in patients that can't move away * Bair Huggers - can only be used in anaesthetised/sedated patients, but must be constantly monitore
42
Burns: Nursing considerations
Treat shock * Running cold water over area for 15 minutes – but monitor for subsequent hypothermia * Can temporarily protect with cling film whilst awaiting to fully dress * Elizabethan collar * Analgesia * Clip around the burn to see the full extent
43
First Aid for haemorrhage
External haemorrhage –apply pressure, artery forceps for localisable arterial bleeds Abdominal haemorrhage –ultrasound, equipment for abdominocentesis, abdominal pressure bandage Known coagulopathy –avoid jugular vein sampling, minimise needle ‘stabs’ and gentle handling
44
haemorrhage nursing considerations
patients history- underlining bleeding disorder, if that is suspected or know this changes the way of nursing
45
First Aid for Wounds
Lots of types e.g. incisions, lacerations, abrasions, contusions, puncture, gunshot * ABCs and major body system assessment * Painassessment and analgesia
46
First Aid for Fractures
A break in the continuity of the bone * Incomplete or complete * Open or closed * Pathological or traumatic * Luxations (dislocations) * Advise to transport in a cage/box where possible and limit movement * Always perform your ABCs, major body system assessment and primary survey * Analgesia * Get x-ray machine ready * Distal unstable fractures > Robert jones bandage (see next slide) * Open fractures > copious flushing, bacterial swabs and anti biotics * Luxations > reduction under general anaesthesia
47
First Aid for Fractures
Robert Jones Bandage MUST only be used for distal fractures where bandage can immobilise a joint above AND below the fracture
48
what is Hypoglycaemia
low blood sugar
49
what is Hyperkalaemia
high blood potassium
50
what is Hypocalcaemia
low blood calcium
51
what is Hypoadrenocorticism
Addison’s disease
52
Urological Emergencies
*Urethral obstruction * Uroabdomen * Acute renal failure
53
Urological First Aid
Careful telephone triage to find out about signalment, drinking, urination and history of trauma * ABCs and triage upon arrival * IV catheter placement as soon as possible * Pain assessment > pain relief * Consider whether PPE could be required; some causes of acute renal failure are zoonotic * Hyperkalaemiacommon > life threatening bradyarrhythmia
54
Key Aims of Toxological First Aid
1. Identify the poison and the amount ingested/exposed to 2. Prevent further absorption of the poison e.g. inducing emesis, use of adsorbents 3. Treat any signs that develop symptomatically (e.g. seizures, pain, ulceration 4. Administer any antidote or specific treatment
55
Toxological First Aid: Ocular Decontamination
* Owners can be advised to flush the eye with water (care!) * In the clinic - flush with sterile 0.9% saline * After flushing, the cornea will need staining with fluorescein to allow examination for ulceration
56
Toxological First Aid: Dermal Decontamination
* Wear PPE including a face mask * Warm water * Clip hair where possible * Care not to cause hypo or hyperthermia

PPVN (7 decks)

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