EMT memorize

What are the altitude illnesses called?

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) & High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)

What is the respiration rate for age 0-12 months?

30-60 breaths/min

What is the respiration rate for age 1-3 years?

24-40 breaths/min

What is the respiration rate for age 4-5 years?

22-34 breaths/min

What is the respiration rate for age 6-12 years?

18-30 breaths/min

What is the respiration rate for age 18 and up?

12-20 breaths/min

What are most commons errors that result in AEDs failing?

presence of fine ventricular fibrillation, use of an AED on a moving patient, & turning off the AED before analysis/shock is completed

What are the less common reasons that result in AEDS failing?

battery failure, application of AED to person not in cardiac arrest, not pushing analyze/shock button when told to or pushing the power button instead of the analyze/shock button

How should an ambulance be safely driven?

Stay at least 4 seconds behind another vehicle, select shortest and least-congested route, drive within the speed limit except in extreme emergencies & always assume other drivers do not hear or see you (even with lights and sirens)

What dose the ‘O’ in OPQRST mnemonic stand for?

Onset: What were you doing when the symptoms began?

What dose the ‘P’ in OPQRST mnemonic stand for?

Provocation/Palliation Does anything make the symptoms better or worse?

What dose the ‘Q’ in OPQRST mnemonic stand for?

Quality: What does the symptom feel like?

What dose the ‘R’ in OPQRST mnemonic stand for?

Region/Radiation: Where do you feel the symptom? Does it move anywhere?

What dose the ‘S’ in OPQRST mnemonic stand for?

Severity: On a scale of 0-10, how would you rate your symptom?

What dose the ‘T’ in OPQRST mnemonic stand for?

Timing: When did the symptom start? How long has it been occurring? Has it been constant, or does it come and go?

What are common opioid drugs used to treat pain (also known as narcotics)?

Morphine, Oxycodone & Fentanyl

What are crackles caused by? When are they heard?

Air trying to pass fluid in alveoli, the sound is heard on inhalation. Often a result of pulmonary edema or congestive heart failure.

What is the appropriate way to size an Oropharyngeal Airway (OPA) on a pediatric patient?

Measure using a length-based resuscitation tape (Broselow tape)

What occurs when an appropriately trained EMT does not provide adequate ventilation during resuscitation, and a patient died as a result.

Negligence

What are special reporting situations?

Gunshot wounds, dog bites, infectious diseases, suspected abuse, & multiple-casualty incident (separate form)

What MOIs are considered significant and require transport to highest-level trauma center available?

Adult fall greater than 20 ft, child fall greater than 10 ft, ejection from automobile, death in the same passenger compartment, vehicle telemetry data suggesting high injury, automobile vs. pedestrian or bicyclist thrown/run over/with significant over 20 mph impact, & motorcycle crashes over 20 mph

What are common anticonvulsant medications?

Phenytoin (Dilantin, carbamazepine (Tegretol), valproic acid (Depakene), levetiracetam (Keppra), and topiramate (Topamax)

What is Warfarin (Coumadin) used for?

to treat or prevent blood clots in veins or arteries

What is Donzepezil (Aricept) used for?

management of dementia

What is cardiac tamponade? What are the symptoms?

the filling of blood or fluid past the pericardium (protective membrane around the heart) into the pericardial sac. Symptom’s= Beck’s triad (distended jugular veins, narrowing pulse pressure & muffled heart sounds).

When does congestive heart failure occur?

When the body can no longer adapt to decreased cardiac output from ventricular heart muscle damage

What does APGAR score system stand for and what is it used for?

Used to assess status of a newborn. Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity & Respirations

What are the signs/symptoms of pancreatitis?

fever, abdominal pain that radiates to the back, nausea/vomiting (specifically after eating), tachycardia & abdominal tenderness

What are beta-blocker medications used to treat?

Hypertension and will interfere with the sympathetic nervous system resulting in bradycardia, hypotension and possibly coma.

What may cause erroneous pulse oximeter readings?

nail polish, low perfusion, & bright ambient light

What warfare agents cause symptoms immediately?

vesicant agents, pulmonary agents & nerve agents

What are the common selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors widely used as antidepressants?

fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa) & sertraline (Zoloft)

Which supraglottic airway devices are available for EMS use?

i-Gel, King LT, Laryngeal mask airway

What are the signs/symptoms of cholecytitis?

upper-right-quadrant pain (especially after eating fatty foods), referred pain to right shoulder, nausea, vomiting, fever, jaundice, loose/light-colored bowel movements

Where is the tricuspid valve located?

between the right atrium and the right ventricle

Which main blood vessels returns blood to the heart?

superior vena cava, pulmonary vein & inferior vena cava

What clinical indicators appear as intracranial pressure (ICP) increases?

unilaterally fixed and dilated pupils, abnormal respirations, bradycardia, & widening pulse pressure

In which direction do most hip dislocations happen?

most hip dislocations involve posterior dislocation

What are the sizes/colors of the King LT airways?

White = size 1 for patient who is 5-12 kg, Yellow= size 3 for patients 4-5 ft tall, Red is size=4 for patients 5-6 ft tall, and Purple is size=5 for a patient over 6 ft tall

What is the order of securing a patient on a long backboard?

Upper torso first, then pelvis & upper legs and finally the head.

How is stridor described and what does it indicate?

A brassy, crowing sound that is most prominent on inspiration. Indicates an airway obstruction.

How is rhonchi described and what does it indicate?

Low-pitched sounds that are prominent on expiration. Indicate mucus in the lungs and are often accompanied by a productive cough.

How is wheezing described and what does it indicate?

A high-pitched whistling sound that is loudest on expiration. An obstruction or narrowing of lower airway will commonly cause this.

How is crackles described and what does it indicate?

A wet, crackling breath sound heard on inspiration and expiration that can result from fluid within the lungs.

How long can the brain be deprived of oxygen before developing irreversible damage?

4-6 minutes

What must be conducted prior to performing any interventions on a patient?

primary assessment

What is Cullen sign?

bruising around the umbilicus which indicates intraperitoneal hemorrhage

What is Grey-Turner sign?

bruising along the sides of the abdomen that indicates retroperitoneal hemorrhage

What is Murphy’s sign?

Pain just below the right costal margin on inspiration with palpation which is indicative of cholecystitis

What is Kehr’s sign?

pain in the tip of the shoulder due to the presence of blood or other irritants in the peritoneal cavity when a person is lying down and the legs are elevated, if it’s in the left shoulder then it is a classic symptom of a ruptured spleen

What are the signs/symptoms of an ankle sprain?

pain & tenderness, swelling an/or bruising, cold foot or paresthesia, & muscle spasms

What is the maximum tidal volume of a reservoir bag on an adult bag-valve mask?

1600 mL

What is the maximum tidal volume of a reservoir bag on an pediatric bag-valve mask?

500 mL

What is the maximum tidal volume of a reservoir bag on an infant bag-valve mask?

240 mL

Who authorizes EMS personnel to provide medical care in the field?

Medical director

What are signs/symptoms of congestive heart failure?

pulmonary and peripheral edema, distended neck veins, hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, retractions, cyanosis, diaphoresis, and crackers on auscultation

Which arteries indicate central pulses?

Carotid and femoral arteries as they are easier to palpate

When should an emergency move be performed?

If there is a risk of serious harm or death, an inability to gain access to other patients who need lifesaving care, or other life-threatening conditions that cannot be assessed and/or treated

What is the approx time from conception to delivery for a normal gestation?

40 weeks (9 months)

What is the role of the medical director?

a physician who authorizes or delegates to EMS personnel the authority to provide medical care in the field

What is the role of Medical control?

the instructions given by a physician via radio or cell phone, as well as standing protocols/guidelines authorized by the medical director of the service program

who has rights to otherwise confidential info without expressed patient consent?

a third-party billing representative

What are the prioritized actions in a mass shooting event?

THREAT: Threat suppression, Hemorrhage control, Rapid Extrication to safety, Assessment by medical providers, Transport to definitive care

Common vehicle terminology

engine compartment, trunk, roof, driver side, passenger side, A post, B post, and C post

What is an intracranial hemorrhage?

Accumulation of blood within the skull, increasing intracranial pressure (ICP)

What are epidural hematomas almost always caused by?

a temporal bone fracture from a blow to the side of the head

What are subdural hematomas usually caused by?

occurs after falls or injuries involving strong deceleration forces

what is a subarachnoid hemorrhage usually caused by?

trauma and ruptured aneurysms

what are signs/symptoms of a subarachnoid hemorrhage?

bloody CSF and meningeal irritation (neck rigidity, headache)

What is the rule of 9s for children

18% head, 18% chest, 9% for each arm, 13.5% for each leg and 1% for genitalia

How long should you wash your hands with soap and water?

20 secondsw

when would you place someone in the recovery position?

to help maintain a clear airway for patients with decreased LOC who are breathing adequately and have no sustained traumatic injuries

what is angina pectoris (cardiac chest pain) caused by?

lack of adequate oxygenation to the heart

What are low-head dams?

“Drowning machines” that involves dangerous recirculating currents called boils. These currents trap and drag people underwater, and then a current called a backwash pulls them to surface and back into the boil. Strainers are floating objects and debris that might also be caught.

How much blood is in an average adult’s body?

six liters

What are characteristics of the epidermis?

Superficial layer of human skin that varies in thickness, depending on the part of the body.

What are characteristics of the dermis?

Deeper layer of skin that contains specialized skin structure like sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair follicles, blood vessels and specialized nerve endings.

What are sympathomimetics?

Central nervous system stimulants that mimic the effects of the sympathetic nervous system. Examples include cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, and caffeine

What is respiratory alkalosis?

excess carbon dioxide loss through rapid breathing

What causes respiratory alkalosis?

aspirin overdose, fevers, and hyperventilation

What is respiratory acidosis and what causes it?

retaining carbon dioxide from slow respirations, opioid overdose is associated with it

What are possible complications of hemodialysis?

hypotension, electrolyte imbalance, muscle cramps, altered mental status, infection and bleeding from the access site

What is acute coronary syndrome (ACS) caused by and what conditions are associated with it?

caused by a reduction or interruption of blood flow to the myocardium and is associated with angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction (AMI)

what is battery?

the unlawful touching of another person including providing emergency care without consent

what is assault?

the unlawful placement of a person in fear of immediate bodily harm

Do you immobilize a patient during an emergency move?

no, there is no time to immbolize patient on a long backboard or scoop stretcher

what are the types of pelvic fractures?

vertical shear, open-book & straddle

What are all the normal pediatric respiratory rates?

Neonates to 1 year= 30-60, Toddler (1-3 years): 22-40, Preschooler (3-5 years): 22-34, School-aged child (6-12 years): 18-30, everyone else 12-20

What is the most widely used water-rescue model?

reach, throw, row, go

What medications would you give in a prehospital setting for an acute myocardial infarction?

aspirin, nitroglycerin & plavix

what defines the term “standard of care?”

written, accepted levels of emergency care based on training and profession

What is pleural effusion?

collection of fluid outside the lung on one or both sides of the chest

What can lead to pleural effusion?

infection, pulmonary embolism, congestive heart failure, and cancer

What types of shock are related to pump failure?

cariogenic shock and obstructive shock

what is the preferred method to immobilize a potentially broken hip for transport?

use a scoop stretcher with pillows

How is pulseless electrical activity defined (PEA)?

the patient is in cardiac arrest, bu there is still an organized electrical complex

What parts make up the cardiovascular system and are referred to as the perfusion triangle?

heart, blood vessels & blood

What drug is commonly known as liquid ecstasy?

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB)

What is the unique characteristic of cardiac muscle cells called?

automaticity

If the placenta has not yet been delivered what is the proper procedure for the deliery and transport of the placenta?

start transport of the patient and newborn without waiting for the placenta to deliver, if the placenta delivers en route, wrap the cord and placenta in a towel and place them in a plastic bag