Paramedic Clinical Practice and Operational Protocols Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering paramedic clinical care, human anatomy, pathophysiology, medical formulas, operational codes, and ambulance documentation standards.

Beta Cells

Cells located in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas that produce and secrete insulin.

Alpha Cells

Endocrine cells in the pancreas that produce and secrete glucagon.

Field Training Officer (FTO)

A mentor considered a supervisor whose shared goal with the student is to develop the student as a future clinician for real-world practice.

Station Phone Standard

Administrative protocol requiring the station telephone to be answered within $3$ rings.

CTAS 1 ACR Timeline

Ambulance Call Report standard requiring documentation to be completed before the next call.

CTAS 2-5 ACR Timeline

Ambulance Call Report standard requiring documentation to be completed before the end of the shift.

Shoot Times

Operational response targets requiring call acknowledgment in $< 30\text{ seconds}$ and wheels rolling within $60\text{--}90\text{ seconds}$.

Phase 4 ETCO2

The inspiratory phase of the capnogram during which the $CO_2$ value decreases to baseline.

Adult Tidal Volume

The volume of air inhaled during a normal breath, normally $500\text{ ml}$ or $6\text{--}8\text{ ml/kg}$.

Exaggerated Sims Position

The recommended patient positioning used to relieve pressure on the umbilical cord during cord prolapse.

Anaphylaxis Epinephrine Dose

Standard intramuscular dose of $0.01\text{ mg/kg}$ given up to $2$ times, every $5\text{ minutes}$.

Mixed Gland

An anatomical classification for the pancreas due to its dual endocrine and exocrine functions.

Efferent vs. Afferent

Nerve fibers or pathways carrying impulses away from a central organ (efferent) versus towards it (afferent).

Nitroglycerin Preload Effect

A cardiovascular medication administered primarily to reduce myocardial preload.

Hemothorax vs. Pneumothorax Neck Vein Signs

Hemothorax presents with flat neck veins, whereas tension pneumothorax presents with jugular venous distension (JVD).

FTT Categories

Field Trauma Triage criteria categories consisting of Physiological, Anatomical, Mechanism, and Special criteria.

Emergency Flare Placement

Safety flares placed $30\text{ meters}$ in front and $30\text{ meters}$ behind a disabled vehicle, visible from at least $150\text{ meters}$ back.

Non-Retroperitoneal Organs

Abdominal viscera that do not lie behind the peritoneum, specifically including the stomach and the bladder.

Anterior Pituitary Hormones

Secretions of the anterior pituitary including Prolactin, Adrenocorticotropic hormone, TSH, FSH, GH, LH, Somatotropin, Corticotropin-releasing hormone, and Melanocyte-stimulating hormone.

Normal Blood pH

The physiological baseline blood pH of $7.40$, where $< 7.40$ represents acidosis and $> 7.40$ represents alkalosis.

Salbutamol for Hyperkalemia

A beta-2 agonist given at a dose of $1600\text{ mcg}$ to facilitate intracellular shifting of excess potassium.

Hotel Sierra (HS)

Operational radio code directing crew members to acknowledge danger and retreat to their vehicle or a safe area.

10-32

Emergency ten-code signaling a medic is down.

10-33

Emergency ten-code designating priority transmission on the radio channel.

Parkland Burn Formula

Fluid resuscitation formula calculating $4\text{ ml} \times \text{\% BSA} \times \text{kg}$ for the first $24\text{ hours}$, given as $\frac{1}{2}$ over the first $8\text{ hours}$ and $\frac{1}{2}$ over the next $16\text{ hours}$.

Pediatric Blood Pressure Formulas

Standard systolic formulas: normal systolic threshold is $\ge 90 + (\text{age} \times 2)$; hypotension threshold is $< 70 + (\text{age} \times 2)$.

Croup vs. Epiglottitis

Croup is a viral, subglottic infection presenting with low fever; epiglottitis is a bacterial, supraglottic infection presenting with high fever.

Dalton's Law

The physical law stating that the total pressure of a gas mixture is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of its individual component gases.

Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS)

A renal, cardiac, and vascular compensatory cascade that increases angiotensin II and aldosterone to cause arterial vasoconstriction.

Aortic Arch Branches

The arterial vessels branching from right to left: Brachiocephalic trunk (dividing into Right Common Carotid and Right Subclavian), Left Common Carotid, and Left Subclavian.

Forms of CO2 Transport

The three circulating mechanisms of carbon dioxide: bicarbonate ions, dissolved gas in plasma, and carbaminohemoglobin.

Determinants of Blood Pressure

The three physiological variables regulating systemic blood pressure: cardiac output, blood volume, and vascular resistance.

Residual Volume

The volume of gas remaining inside the lungs following a maximal, complete expiration.

Homeostatic pH Control Systems

The three primary regulatory systems maintaining acid-base balance: the buffer system, the respiratory system, and the renal system.

Tunica Media

The middle muscular layer of an arterial wall responsible for vasoconstriction.

Aerobic Metabolism

Cellular respiration process producing $36\text{--}37\text{ ATP}$ alongside $CO_2$ as a metabolic byproduct.

Glycogenolysis

The physiological conversion of stored glycogen from the liver into glucose.

Hyperkalemia Arrhythmia in Crush Injury

A cardiac dysrhythmia caused by elevated extracellular potassium ($K^+$) following extensive skeletal muscle compression.

Left Circumflex Artery Infarction

Coronary artery branch occlusion characterized by ST elevation changes in ECG leads $V_5$, $V_6$, $I$, and $aVL$.

Ventricular Systole Valve Configuration

Mechanical state during which the atrioventricular (AV) valves remain closed while both the aortic and pulmonary semilunar valves open.

Phase 1 of Cardiac Cycle

The specific electrical phase in myocardial action potential representing early repolarization.

PR Interval

The electrocardiographic interval reflecting the normal physiological delay at the atrioventricular (AV) node.

R2MR

Road to Mental Readiness resilience framework consisting of Goal Setting, Visualization, Self-Talk, and Tactical Breathing.

Hazardous Substances Staging Distance

The safety isolation threshold requiring staging $1500\text{ meters}$ upwind when approaching an incident involving hazardous materials.

Ambulance Reversing Protocol

Safety maneuver requiring driver and spotter to open the window, turn all lights on, and honk twice before backing.

CTAS 2 Reassessment Interval

Clinical monitoring directive mandating reassessment every $30\text{ minutes}$ while on offload delay (OLD) or in the emergency department.

CTAS 0

Triage designation assigned to patients meeting criteria for Termination of Resuscitation (TOR) or Code 5.

Routine MOH IPAC Practice

Infection prevention and control standard identifying hand hygiene as the primary routine practice under Ministry of Health directives.

Transported Patient Vital Signs Minimum

Clinical standard requiring documentation of at least $2$ complete sets of vital signs for every patient transported.