Medical Emergencies Flashcards
(41 cards)
Medical emergency immediate protocol
ABCDE
How to assess airway
Can patient talk
Listen for stridor/snore/wheezing
Manoeuvres to assess airway
Head tilt chin lift
Jaw thrust
Oropharyngeal airway
What is a normal respiratory rate?
12-20 breaths per min
How to check breathing
Look for chest rising
What is respiratory rate
The number of breaths you take per min
02 saturation levels
98% normal
82% fingers and lips go blue
60% tongue goes blue (hypoxic)
How to check patients circulation
Pts pulse on wrist or neck
What is normal heart rate
60-99bpm
Time frame for capillary refill to be a sign of organ perfusion
Under 2s on fingertips
How to check disability
ACVPU - Glasgow Coma Scale
Alert
Confusion
Verbal
Pain
Unresponsive
Assess pupils - size + symmetry
How to check exposure
Rashes - sign of anaphylaxis/adverse drug reaction
ABCDE for anaphylaxis
A - swelling
B - increased RR
C - increased HR
D - LOC
E - rash/pale/clammy
Tx for anaphylaxis
Do not stand up as can cause cardiac arrest
Lie flat elevate legs
Administer 15l 02 100% non rebreathable mask
Administer adrenaline 0.5ml 1:1000 intramuscular
If not effective repeat at 5 min intervals
Dose of adrenaline in an epi pen
0.3mg
ABCDE for asthma
A- struggling to talk
B - increased RR
C - increased HR
D - often alert
E - tripod position to get more O2 in
Tx for asthma
Mild/moderate
Salbutamol 100mg 2x puff with spacer (can give up to 10 puffs)
15l/min 100% O2 non rebreathable mask
Life threatening
RR <8
HR <50
Begin chest compressions
ABCDE for angina
A - talking
B - increased RR
C - increased HR
D - chest pain, pain spreading to left or right arm
E - pale, clammy, central chest pain, sick, lightheaded
Tx for angina
ABCDE
2 sprays GTN sublingually
If pt doesn’t have satisfactory BP and doesn’t improve after GTN then consider MI and give aspirin
ABCDE for MI
A - talking
B - increased RR
C - increased HR
D - chest pain, pain spreading to left or right arm
E - pale, clammy, central chest pain, sick, lightheaded
Tx for MI
GTN spray 2x sublingually
300mg dispersible Aspirin chewed, no water for 10 mins as absorbed through oral mucosa
ABCDE for seizure
A - can be compromised
B - can be altered
C - can be altered
D - unresponsive
E - seizure activity, incontinence
Tx for seizure
Make environment safe
Recovery position
o2
If longer than 5mins or 3 or more in 1 hour then administer midazolam or oromucosal solution 10mg
ABCDE for Hypoglycaemia
A - initially talking, slurred
B - initially increased but can then decrease
C - initially increased HR but can then decrease
D - initially alert can lead to LOC
E - irritable, confused, sleepy, blurred vision
