blunt-force trauma
injury caused by a blow that DOES NOT penetrate the skin or other body tissue
danger zone
area around wreckage of a vehicle collision or other incident where special safety percautions should be taken
index of suspicion
awareness that there may be injuries
mechanism of injury
the fources that may have caused patient injury
nature of the illness
what is medically wrong with a patient
penetrating trauma
injury caused by an object that passes through the skin or other body tissues
scene size-up
steps taken when approaching the scene of an emergancy call: checking scene safety, Standard Precations, mechanism of injury, number of patients, decideing what additional recources needed
AVPU
memory aid for classifying a patiens level of responsiveness or mental status. ALERT VERBAL PAIN UNRESPONSIVE
ABC's
airway, breathing, circulation
cheif complaint
in emergency medicine, the reason EMS was called, usually in the patients own words
general impression
impression of the patients condition that is formed on first approach, baised on patients environment, cheif complaint, and apprence
interventions
actions taken to correct or manage a patients problems
mental status
level of responsiveness
primary assessment
The first element of a patient assessment; steps taken for the purpose of discovering and dealing with any life-threatening problems.
six parts to primary assessment
general impression, mental status, airway, breathing, circulation, priority of patient for treatment and transfer to hospital
priority
the decision regarding the need for immediate transport of the patient versus further asessment and care at the scene
ABC
airway, breathing, curculation
blood pressure Adult
syst: less than or equal to 120
diast: less than oe equal 80
BP for infants and children
syst: aproxx 80+2 x age(yrs)
diast: approx 2/3 systolic
BP is usually not taken in childeren under 3yrs old
BP adolesent 11 to 14
syst: 114 (88 to 120)
diast: average 76
school age 6 to 10
syst: 105 (80- 115)
diast: average 69
preschool 3 to 5
syst: 99 (78-104)
diast: average 65
high blood pressure
medical condition, exertion, fright, emotional distress, excitement
low blood pressure
blood loss, late sign of shock
dilated pupil
fright, blood loss, drugs, percription eye drops
constricted (smaller than normal) dilation
drugs(narcotics), eye drops
unequal pupil dilation
stroke, head injury, eye injury, artificial eye, eye drops
lack of reactivity of pupil
lack of oxygen to brain
pink skin
normal in light skinned patients, normal at inner eyelids, lips, nail beds of dark-skinned patients
pale skin
constricted blood vessels from blood loss, shock, hypotension, emotional distress
cyanotic(blue- grey) skin
lack of oxygen in blood cells and tissues from inadequate breathing or heat
flushed (red) skin
exposure to heat, emotinal excitement
CCT
color, condition, tempeture
jaundiced (yellow) skin
abnormalities of the liver
mottled (blotchy) skin
occassionally in patients with shock
PERRL
pupil, equal, round, react, light
bradycardia
a slow pulse; pulse below 60 beats per min
constrist
get smaller
dilate
get larger
oxygen saturation (SpO2)
ratio of the amount of OXYGEN PRESENT in the blood TO the amount that could be CARRIED, expressed as a persentage
palpation
touching or feeling.
pulse
rhythmic beats felt as heart pumps blood through the arteries
pulse oximeter
electronic device used to determine the amount of oxgen carried by the blood measures SpO2
pulse quality
the regular or irregular rhythm and strong or weak force of the pulse
pulse rate
number of pulse beats per min
reactivity
pupils of the eyes reacting to light by changing in size
respiratory rate
the number of breaths taken in one min
sphygmomanometer
cuff and gauge used to messure BP
tachycardia
rapid pulse, pulse above 100 beats per min
vital signs
outward signs of what is going on inside the body, including repiration, pulse, skin color, tempeture, pupils, and BP
systolic
pressure created when the HEART CONTRACTS and forces blood INTO the the arteries
diastolic
pressure remaining in the arteries when left ventrical is relaxed and refilling
hypoxia/ (SpO2)/ oxygen saturation
Normal: 96-100%
Mild: 91- 95%
Significant/Moderate: 86- 90%
Severe: 85 or less %
crepitation
the grating sound of feeling of broken bones rubbing together
detailed physical exam
an assessment of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, extrinities, and posterior of the body to detect signs and symptoms of injury.
distention
a condition of being streched, inflated, larger than normal
HPI
history of the present illness, info gathered from symptoms and nature of the patients current cincern
jugular vein distention (JVD)
bulging of the neck veins
paradoxical motion
movement of a part of the chest in the opposite direction to the rest of the chest during respiration
PMH
past medical history: info gathered regarding the patients health problems in the past
priapism
peristent erection of the penis that may result from spinal injury and some medical problems
rapid trauma assessment
rapid assesment of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, extrimites, and posterior of the body to detect signs and symptoms of injury
SAMPLE
past medical history: Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent Past history, Last oral intake, Events leading up to injury or illness
stoma
permament surgical opening in the neck through which allows patient to breathe
tracheostomy
a surgical incision held open by a metal of plastic tube
trauma partient
a patient suffering from one of more physicsical injury
DCAP- BTLS
Deformities, Contusion(bruise), Abrasions(srape), Punctures/Penetrations, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations(cuts), Swelling
perfusion
movement of the blood
CSF
ceribral spinal fluid
rear- end collisions
common causes of neck and head injuries from vhichcular accidents
severe falls
determin height of fall, surface fell into, part of patient that hits the surface
Child: 10ft or 2-3 times the childs height
Adult: 20ft
OPQRST
questions asked to get a description of the present illness: Onset, Provokes, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time
reassessment
procedure for determinaming changes in a patients condition, repeating primary assessment, vital signs, physical exam, and rechecking interventions
trending
changes in a patients condition over time, can show improvement or detrioration
diagnosis
description or label for a patients condition that assist a clinician in further evaluation and treatment