EMT Chapter 19,21,22,23,24

Addiction

A state of overwhelming obsession or physical need to continue the use of a substance

Antidote

A substance that is used to neutralize or counteract a poison

Delirium tremens (DTs)

A severe withdrawal syndrome seen in alcoholics who are deprived of ethyl alcohol; characterized by restlessness, fever, sweating, disorientation, agitation, and seizures; can be fatal if untreated

Emesis

Vomiting

Hallucinogen

An agent that produce false perceptions in any one of the five senses.

Hematemesis

Vomiting blood

Hypnotic

A sleep-inducing effect or agent

Ingestion

Swallowing; taking a substance by mouth

Material safety data sheet (MSDS)

A form, provided by manufacturers and compounders (blenders) of chemicals, containing information about chemical composition, physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, emergency response, and waste disposal of a specific material; also known as a safety data sheet (SDS)

Narcotic

A drug that produces sleep or altered mental consciousness

Opiate

A subset of the opioid family, referring to natural, frug, or agent similar to the opiate morphine, but not derived from opium; used to relieve pain

Overdose

An excessive quantity of a drug that, when taken or administered, can have toxic or lethal consequences

Poison

A substance whose chemical actin could damage structures or impair function when introduced into the body

Sedative

A substance that decreases activity and excitement

Tolerance

The need for increasing amounts of a drug to obtain the same effect

Toxicology 

The study of toxic or poisonous substances

Toxin

A poison or harmful substance

Methods of poison intake

Inhaling, ingesting, injecting, absorbed, alcohol intoxication and withdrawal

Sympathomimetics

Stimulants that mimic the effects of the sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system. Frequently causes (hypertension, tachycardia, dilated pupils)

Anticholinergic Agents

medications that block the parasympathetic nerves. May cause (hyperthermia, dilated pupils, dry skin and mucous membranes, reddened skin, agitation or delirium)

Cholinergic Agents

Medications that overstimulate the normal body functions controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system.

D.U.M.B.E.L.S.

Diarrhea, Urination, Miosis (constriction of pupils)/muscle weakness, Bradycardia/Bronchospasm/Bronchorrhea (discharge of mucus from lungs), Emesis, Lacrimation (excessive tearing), Seizures/Salivation/Sweating

S.L.U.D.G.E.M.

Salivation/Sweating, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation/Drooling/Diarrhea, Gastric upset & cramps, Emesis, Muscle twitching/Miosis (pinpoint pupils)

Activities of daily living

The basic activities a person usually accomplishes during a normal day, such as eating, dressing, and bathing

Altered mental status

A change in the way a person thinks and behaves that may signal disease in the central nervous system or elsewhere in the body

Behavior 

How a person functions or acts in response to his or her environment

Behavioral Crisis

The point at which a person’s reactions to events interfere with activities of daily living; this becomes a psychiatric emergency when it causes a major life interruption, such as attempted suicide

Behavioral health emergency

An emergency in which abnormal behavior threatens a person’s own health and safety or the health and safety of another person—for example, when a person becomes suicidal or homicidal, or has a psychotic episode.

Depression

A persistent mood of sadness, despair, and discouragement; may be a symptom of many different mental and physical disorders, or may be a disorder on its own.

Excited Delirium

A serious behavioral condition in which a person exhibits agitated behavior combined with disorientation, hallucinations, or delusions; also called agitated delirium or exhaustive mania. (hypertension, hyperthermia, tachycardia, diaphoresis, dilated pupils)

Functional Disorder

A disorder in which there is in known physiologic reason for the abnormal functioning of organ or organ system.

Organic Brain Syndrome

Temporary or permanent dysfunction of the brain, caused by a disturbance in the physical or physiologic functioning of brain tissue.

Positional Asphyxia

Restriction of chest wall movements and/or airway obstruction; can rapidly lead to sudden death

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A delayed reaction to prior incident. Often the result of one or more conditions concerning the incident, and may relate to an incident that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm.

Psychiatric Disorder

An illness with psychological or behavioral symptoms and/or impairment in functions caused by a social psychological, genetic, physical, chemical, or biologic disturbance.

Psychosis

A mental disorder characterized by the loss of contact with reality

Schizophrenia

A complex, difficult-to-identify mental disorder whose onset typically occurs during early adulthood. Symptoms typically become more prominent over time and include delusions, hallucinations, a lack of interest in pleasure, and erratic speech.

Potential for Violence

Poor impulse control, History of fighting, temper, truancy, Substance Abuse, Depression (%20 of violent attacks), Functional disorder

Uncooperative patients

Should be restrained in the supine position with one arm restrained up and one restrained down with the head elevated at 30 degrees, if possible, to prevent airway compromise. Restrain both arms, legs, chest, hips, ankles. Only put mask if patient is splitting.

Acute abdomen

A condition of sudden onset of pain within the abdomen, usually indication peritonitis; immediate medical or surgical treatment is necessary.

Appendicitis

Inflammation or infection of the appendix (anorexia, fever, chills, rebound tenderness)

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder

Cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder

Diverticulitis

Inflammation in small pockets at weak areas in the muscle walls of the intestines (Fever, Malaise, body aches, chills).

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

A condition in which the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach opens, allowing stomach acid to move up into the esophagus, usually resulting in a burning sensation within the chest; also called acid reflux.

Guarding

Involuntary muscle contractions (spasm) of the abdominal wall; an effort to protect the inflamed abdomen.

Hernia

The protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal body opening.

Ileus

Paralysis of the bowel, arising from any one of several causes; stops contractions that move material through the intestine.

Kidney stones

Solid crystalline masses formed in the kidney, resulting from an excess of insoluble salts or uric acid crystallizing in the urine; may become trapped anywhere along the urinary tract.

Melena

Black, foul-smelling, tarry stool containing digested blood.

Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas, pain in upper left & right quadrants (sepsis/hemorrhage may occur).

Peritoneum

The membrane lining the abdominal cavity (parietal peritoneum) and covering the abdominal organs (visceral peritoneum)

Peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneum

Referred pain

Pain felt in an area of the body other than the area where the cause of pain is located.

Strangulation

Complete obstruction of blood circulation in a given organ as a result of compression or entrapment; an emergency situation causing death of tissue.

Uremia

Severe kidney failure resulting in the buildup of waste products within the blood. Eventually brain functions will be impaired.

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

An infection, usually of the lower urinary tract (urethra and bladder), that occurs when normal flora bacteria enter the urethra and grow.

Allergen

A substance that causes an allergic reaction

Allergic reaction

The body’s exaggerated immune response to an internal or surface agent

Anaphylaxis

An extreme, life-threatening, systemic allergic reaction that may include shock and resporatory failure.

Angioedema

Localized areas of swelling beneath the skin, often around the eyes and lips, but can also involve other body areas as well.

Envenomation

The act of injecting venom

Epinephrine

A substance produced by the body (commonly called adrenaline), and a drug produced by pharmaceutical companies that increases pulse rate and blood pressure, the drug of choice for an anaphylactic reaction.

Histamines

Chemical substances released by the immune system in allergic reactions that responsible for many of the symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as vasodilation.

Immune response

The body’s response to a substance perceived by the body as foreign.

Immune system

The body system that includes all of the structures and processes designed to mount a defense against foreign substances and disease-causing agents.

Immunology

The study of the body’s immune system

Leukotrienes

Chemical substances that contribute to anaphylaxis; released by the immune system in allergic reactions.

Stridor

A harsh, high-pitched respiratory sound, generally heard during inspiration, that is caused by partial blockage or narrowing of the upper airway; may be audible without a stethoscope.

Urticaria

Small areas of generalized itching and/or burning that appear as multiple raised areas on the skin; hives.

Wheal

A raised, swollen, well-defined area on the skin resulting from an insect bite or allergic reaction.

Wheezing

A high-pitched, whistling breath sound that is most prominent on expiration, and which suggest an obstruction or narrowing of the lower airways; occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis.

Bacterial vaginosis

An overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina; characterized by itching, burning, or pain, and possibly a “fishy” smelling discharge. (Most common ages 15-44)

Gynecologic emergency

If (vaginal bleeding) treat hypo-perfusion/shock, keep warm, supine position, supplemental O2 even if no difficulty breathing, consider ALS intercept.

Cervix

The lower third, or neck, of the uterus

Chlamydia

A sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis

Fallopian tubes

The tubes that connect each ovary with the uterus and are the primary location for fertilization of the ovum.

Gonorrhea

A sexually transmitted disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, generally worse in men (appear 2-10 days after exposure)

Labia majora

Outer fleshy “lips” covered with pubic hair that protect the vagina

Labia minora

Inner fleshy “lips” devoid of pubic hair that protect the vagina

Ovaries

The primary female reproductive organs that produce an ovum, or egg, that, if fertilized, will develop into a fetus.

Ovulation

The process in which an ovum is released from a follicle

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

An infection of the fallopian tubes and the surrounding tissues of the pelvis.

Perineum

The area of the skin between the vagina and the anus.

Rape

Sexual intercourse forcibly inflicting on another person, against that person’s will.

Sexual assault

An attack against a person that is sexual in nature, the most common of which is rape

Uterus

The muscular organ where the fetus grows, also called the womb; responsible for contractions during labor.

Vagina

The outermost cavity of a woman’s reproductive tract; the lower part of the birth canal.

Abdominal cavity contains:

Gastrointestinal system, Genital system, Urinary system

Solid organs

The liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, ovaries (women). Injuries can cause shock and bleeding

Hollow organs

The gallbladder, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and bladder. Injuries can cause its content to leak and contaminate the abdominal cavity.

Small intestine 

The contents are Duodenum (digestive juice via pancreas and liver), Jejunum (most work), and Ileum (absorbs nutrients and bile).

Causes of Acute Abdomen

Ulcers, Gallstones, Pancreatitis, Appendicitis, Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, Esophagitis, Esophageal varices, Mallory-Weiss syndrome, Gastroenteritis, Diverticulitis, Hemorrhoids.

Acute kidney failure

Sudden decrease in kidney function, reversible with prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Chronic kidney failure

Irreversible, progressively develops over months/years, eventually dialysis or transplant is required.

Dialysis Emergency

Manage XABC’s, high-flow O2 if needed, bleeding from access site, patient position (upright - pulmonary edema/ supine - shock), transport promptly.

Right upper quadrant

Liver, Gallbladder, Kidney (r.)

Left upper quadrant

Spleen, Kidney (L.), Stomach, Pancreas

Right lower quadrant

Appendix

Left lower quadrant 

Colon