Patient Assessment EMT EXAM 1

Scene Size Up
1st major step
5 sub steps

BSI- Body Substance Isolation
Determine scene safety
Determine number of Pts
Determine medical or trauma
Determine need for additional recourses
Then continue to Primary assessment

2nd major step
8 sub steps

Overall view
Stabilize C Spine
Patient Status
Level of cautiousness (LOC)
Airway
Breathing
Circulations
Transport Decision

General Impression In Primary Assesssment

AAMBIRPC

AAMBIRPC
Overall view substeps

A-age,sex,race
A-Audible Breath Sounds
M-MOI or NOI
B-Body Fluids
I-Imminent Life Threats
R-Responsiveness
P-Position
C-Color

4 levels of Pt response to assessment
LOC substeps

A-alert
V-Verbal
P-pain
U-Unresponsive

3 separate assessments made in circulation

Pulse
Body fluids-Hemorrhage
Perfusion

3rd Major step

Significant trauma pt
not significant trauma pt
unresponsive medical pt (Medical AMS)
responsive medical pt (Medical A&O)

Significant MOI trauma
Trauma Significant steps

RPE-Rapid Trauma Assessment
Baseline Vitals
SAMPLE

Not Significant Trauma
and
Unresponsive medical pt (Medical AMS) steps

focused physical
vitals
SAMPLE

Medical Responsive (Medical A&O)

SAMPLE/OPQRSTI
Focused Physical
Baseline Vitals

what is the purpose of Rapid Physical Exam

expose patient to be able to see injuries
look for life threatening injuries

Techniques of RPE

IPA
DCAP-BTLS

IPA

Inspect
Palpate
Auscultation/stethoscope

DCAP

Deformaties
contusions
Abrasions
Penetration and Punctures

BTLS

Burns
tenderness
lacerations
swellings & symmetry

Components of RPE

Head
Neck
Chest
Abdomen
Pelvis
Extremities
Back

Components of RPE head

blood/CSF in ears, nose, mouth
Airway burns
Deformity
Pupil

Components of RPE Neck Anterior

JVD-jugular vein distension
Stoma Emphysema
Midline trachea
Medical alter tag

Components of RPE Neck Posterior

C1-C7
above scapula

Components of RPE Chest

Equal chest rise
Paradoxical motion

Components of RPE Abdomen

GBREAD

GBREAD

Guarding
Bruising
Rigidity
Evisceration
Aortic Aneurism
Distention

Components of RPE Extremities

PMS

PMS

Neurovascular check:
Pulse
Motor function
Sensation

Components of RPE Back

Holes
Have backboard ready

4th major step of pt assesssment

Reassessment
Re-evaluate Primary
Re-evaluate vital signs
Repeat appropriate focused assessment
evaluate interventions
re-establish priorities

MOI

Mechanism of injury
Trauma patients

NOI

Nature of illness
Medical patients

CC

Chief Complaint

HPI

History of Present Illness
Relates to OPQRSTI

PMH
PHx

Past Medical History
Relates to SAMPLE

Purpose of getting Pt History

get info related to medical complaint
Allergies, diagnosis, medications
Useful in determining if sick or not sick (field Impression)

Symtom

Cannot be observed
ex: nauseous, heart fluttering

Sign

Others can observe
ex: vomiting, pulse of 160

Gaining control of scene

Competence
Confidence
Compassion

Types of questions on History note taking

Open-ended questions
Closed-ended questions

Open-ended questions

Descriptive answer
Ex: describe how you feel

Closed-ended questions

Yes or No answers
Ex: do you feel suicidal

SAMPLE

S-signs and symptoms
A-allergies
M-medications
P-Past medical history
L-last oral intake
E-Events leading to injury/illness

OPQRSTI

O-onset
P-Proactive/palliative
Q-quality
R-region/radiations
S-Severity
T-time
I-Intervention

Proactive/Palliative

What makes symptom worse?
What makes symptom better?

Quality

How would you describe the symptom

Severity

scale 1-10

Time

When did the symptom start, for how long, has it happened before?

Intervention

have you done anything to fix it and did it work?

Pertinent Negatives

it reflects the differential diagnosis.
does not match up with the disease they are saying.

PRBABESS

P-pulse
RR-respiration
BS-breath sounds
AVPU-LOC
BP-blood pressure
Eyes-pupillary response
Skin-Perfusion
Sp02-Pulse Oximetry

Signs of Airway Obstruction

No breathing
snoring
gurgling
stridor

If the patient is not breathing what do you do?

open airway
provide PPV and O2

PPV

Positive Pressure Ventilation

Bradypnea

Slow rate

Trachypnea

Fast

Sub Q emphysema

Air leaking out of the lung into the tube

Crepitus

two bones rubbing together

Triage codes

Red-emergent, life threatening
Yellow-urgent, care needed within 45-60 minutes
green-non emergent
blue-cardiac arrest
black-dead

Crackles

lower airway problem
fluid in alveoli and bronchioles
pulmonary edmea

Rhonchi

Rattles
upper airway fluid/mucus

Stridor

Upper airway edema
allergic reactions
airway burns

Gurgling

Liquid in upper airway

Pulse

Carotid-Neck
Brachial-Arm
Radial-wrist
Femoral-thigh
Posterior Tibialis- Ankle
Dorsalis Pedis- Foot
Apical- Armpit

Cyanosis

Bluish tent on finger

Jaundice

orange or yellow eye

Turgor

Elasticity of skin

Top number of Blood Pressure

Systolic
90 or more is safe

Bottom number of Blood Pressure

Diastolic

Pulse Oximetry

Usually done on finger or toe
it measures 02 saturation in peripheral blood

Pulse Oximetry measurments

95 or greater-okay
90-94-mild hypoxia
below 89-moderate to severe hypoxia

Blood Glucose

Normal range: 80mg/dl - 120mg/dl

Core temperature

body
oral
rectal
tympanic-through ear canal