Module 4: Vital Signs

Question 1

Vital Signs are part of which component:
1. scene size up
2. primary assessment
3. secondary assessment
4. reassessment

Answer 1

3 secondary assessment

Question 2

What are the five components of a scene size up?

Answer 2

1. BSI
2. Is the scene safe?
3. How many PTs are there?
4. What is the MOI/NOI?
5. Additional resources?

Question 3

Name some examples of additional resources

Answer 3

ALS, Backup like PD

Question 4

What are the basic steps of primary assessment?

Answer 4

1. Airway
2. Breathing
3. Circulation
4. Decision
5. Report

Question 5

What are the components of secondary assessment?

Answer 5

Past medical history
Vital Signs!!
Physical Exam
Medical: examine body systems
Trauma: Look for injuries
Treatments

Question 6

What occurs during ongoing assessment?

Answer 6

State how often you would reassess
Give a final Hand-Off

Question 7

What are baseline vital signs?

Answer 7

first set of vitals the EMT obtains
can compare to future vitals

Question 8

Vital Signs always include:

Answer 8

BERPS(P)
BP
Eyes
Respirations
Pulse
Skin (CTC)
Pulse Oximetry (SpO2)

Question 9

Describe a normal BGLs and indicators it should be take

Answer 9

Normal: 80-120 mg/dL
Indications: altered mental status, diabetic Pts having symptoms (ex. dizziness, sweating, nausea, headaches)

Question 10

What patients should have BGL assessed?

Answer 10

drunk people, people with seizures

Question 11

What is a normal Pulse ox? What should be noted before taking it?

Answer 11

Normal: 94% and above

Caution:
nail polish
pt is cold
pt has resp. disease
CO poisoning

Question 12

Should you take pulse ox if CO poisoning is suspected?

Answer 12

No, inaccurate reading

Question 13

Describe how the rate, quality, and rhythm of respiration should be noted?

Answer 13

Rate: Number breaths per minute (30 seconds x2)
Quality: Character of breathing: Shallow, normal effort, labored
Rhythm: regular or irregular
ex. pt is breathing 18 times a minute, normal effort and regular

Question 14

What are the normal respiratory rates for
adults
children
infants

Answer 14

adults: 12-20
children: 15-30
Infants: 25-30

Question 15

When should you consider a BVM?

Answer 15

if adult resps <8 or >24
Rate not necessarily only indicator, if done with irregular/shallow effort

Question 16

Which pulse should be used if
unconscious
conscious

Answer 16

unconscious: carotid
conscious: radial

Question 17

Where should pulse be taken for pts under 1 years old?

Answer 17

brachial artery (upper arm)

Question 18

How should rate, rhythm, and quality of pulse be noted?

Answer 18

rate: number of beats per minute (30 seconds x2)
rhythm: regular or irregular
quality: weak-strong
if heart rate is irregular, EMT must count for one full minute

Question 19

What is the normal range for pulse rate:
adults
children
infants

Answer 19

Adults: 60 to 100
Children: 70 to 150
Infants: 100 to 160

Question 20

How should color, temperature, and moisture of skin be noted? (ctc)

Answer 20

Color: pink, pallor, cyanosis, flushed, or jaundice
Temperature: cool, warm, hot
moisture: dry, moist (diaphoretic)

Question 21

Where should skin color be checked on darker skin colors?

Answer 21

Inside of lip

Question 22

What sort of patient should you test capillary refill on? When should blood return?

Answer 22

Children below the ago of five, NOT reliable in adults
Blood should return in less than 2 seconds

Question 23

How is capillary refill documented?

Answer 23

CRT and time
ex. CRT, two seconds

Question 24

Compare the two ways to obtain BP

Answer 24

1. Auscultation (preferred)
   -BP Cuff
   -Stethoscope
   -Will obtain systolic and diastolic
2. Palpation
   -BP Cuff
   -EMT Fingers
   -ONLY Obtains systolic

Question 25

What is systolic BP?

Answer 25

Pressure during heart’s contraction, amount of force against the arteries

Question 26

What is diastolic BP?

Answer 26

Pressure during relaxing phase of heart’s cycle. Residual pressure remaining in arteries while heart is filling

Question 27

What is the first step when finding BP?

Answer 27

Find brachial artery, make sure arm is straight, on pinky side of arm

Question 28

What is the second step when finding BP?

Answer 28

Wrap cuff with enough space for stethoscope

Question 29

What is the third step when finding BP?

Answer 29

With stethoscope over brachial, begin to inflate cuff to about 180 to 200, deflate SLOWLY

Question 30

What is the fourth step when finding BP?

Answer 30

Watch the gauge
When you hear the first strong heartbeat, this is the SYSTOLIC
When you hear the last heartbeat, this is DIASTOLIC

Question 31

When should auscultation be used?

Answer 31

When it is too loud or difficult to find

Question 32

Describe process of palpating to find systolic BP

Answer 32

1. Locate radial
2. Wrap cuff around arm
3. Inflate cuff to 200
4. Slowly deflate
5. Note number when pulse returns

Question 33

Name the three things you need to have a good BP

Answer 33

1. Pump (heart)
2. Fluid (blood)
3. Pipes (blood vessels)

Question 34

A drop in BP may indicate:

Answer 34

loss of blood
loss of vascular tone
cardiac pumping problem

Question 35

What occurs when normal pupils are shined w light?

Answer 35

Gets smaller faster and go back to normal size

Question 36

What is PERL?

Answer 36

Pupils are Equal and Reactive to Light

Question 37

A heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute in an adult patient is called

Answer 37

tachycardia