Vital Signs Flashcards
(26 cards)
Secondary Assessment
- past medical history
- vital signs
- physical exam
medical examine body systems
trauma look for injuries - treatment (per protocol )
Ongoing Assessment
state how often you would reassess
- give a final hand off ( transfer of care and speak to the nurse ) verbally and patient care report
ViBaseline Vital Signs
- first set of vital signs the emt obtains
- can compare to future vital signs
Vital Signs
- blood pressure ( 3 years old and above )
- eyes
- respirations
- pulse
- skin (CTC)
- pulse oximetry ( SpO2 )
Glucometer
blood glucose (BGL)
Normal: 80-120 mg/Dl
Indication:
patients with altered mental status
diabetic patients having symptoms
(ex. dizziness, sweating, nausea, headaches )
Pulse Oximetry
normal: above 94% or above
- can be used on all patients
- caution: nail polish, respiration disease, patient is cold, CO poisoning
Respirations
- rate ( number of breaths in one full minute (30 seconds x 2 )
- quality ( character of breathing - shallow - normal effort - labored)
- rhythm ( regular or irregular )
( ex. The patient is breathing 18 times a minute, normal effort and regular )
Respirations
- rate ( number of breaths in one full minute - 30 secs x 2 )
- quality (character of breathing - shallow normal effort labored)
- rhythm ( regular or irregular )
Normal Respiratory Rates
adults - 12 to 20 breaths/mins
children - 15 to 30 breaths/min
infants - 25 to 50 breaths/mins
BVM if adults resps <8 or >24
Pulse ( 1 year old and older )
- unconscious carotid ( pulse in neck )
- conscious radial ( feel the wrist )
Pulse ( under 1 year old)
any infant under thr age of 1 year
brachial artery
Normal range for pulse rate
adults 60-100 beats / min
children 70 - 150 beats per minute
The Skin
color - pink, pallor, cyanosis, flushed, or jaundice
temp - cool warm hot
moisture dry moist ( diaphoretic)
Capillary Refill
- evaluates the ability of the circulatory system to restore blood to the capillary system ( perfusion)
- performed on ages below 5
- is not reliable in adults
- BLOOD SHOULD COME
BACK IN LESS THAN 2 SECS
Blood Pressure
- the amount of pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and when the heart fills back up and the residual pressure
Two ways to obtain a blood pressure
1) auscultation ( preferred )
- blood pressure cuff
- stethoscope
- will obtain systolic and diastolic
2) palpation
- blood pressure cuff
- EMT fingers
- will ONLY obtain systolic
Systolic
pressure during hearts contractions. The amount of force against the arteries when the heart contracts
Diastolic
pressure during relaxing phase of the hearts cycle. The amount of residual pressure remaining in the arteries while the heart is filling
- measured as millimeters of mercury ( mmHg)
- recorded as systolic / diastolic
Korotkoff
the first strong heartbeat ( systolic pressure )
diastolic pressure
the last heartbeat sound
Palpating a blood pressure
- no stethoscope involved
- locate the radial pulse
- wrap the blood pressure around and check the radial pulse
In order to have a blood pressure you body needs three things
- pump ( your heart )
- fluid ( your blood )
- pipes ( blood vessels )
normal pupils PERL
pupils are equal and reactive to light
