EMS Exam

eSCAPe

every patient

Social Support

give Choices

help Anticipate

help Plan

every time

emergency moves

moving a patient before assessment

due to a hazardous scene, required repositioning, etc.

urgent moves

quick movement of patient that includes precautions for a possible spinal injury when necessary

nonurgent moves

patient moved only when necessary for transportation

extremity lift

used when moving a patient from a ground/sitting position to a stretcher or stair chair

direct ground lift

used when moving a patient from the ground to a stretcher

draw-sheet method

often used to move a patient from a bed to stretcher

direct carry

often used to move a patient from a bed to stretcher

supine position

lying on the back, face up

used for patients with suspected shock

implied consent

consent is assumed when a patient is unconscious, or for children with a life-threatening injury when their guardian is not present

cardi root word

heart

gastro root word

stomach

hepat root word

liver

neur root word

nerve

nas root word

nose/nasal

or root word

mouth/oral

pneumo root word

air or lungs

ab- prefix

away from

ad- prefix

toward or near

ante- prefix

before

brady- prefix

slow or below normal

contra- prefix

against

dys- prefix

difficult or painful

hyper- prefix

above normal or high

hypo- prefix

below normal or low

inter- prefix

between

intra- prefix

within or inside

peri- prefix

around

poly- prefix

many

post- prefix

after

pre- prefix

before

sub- prefix

below or under

super- or supra- prefix

above or in excess

tachy- prefix

above normal or rapid

-ac suffix & -al suffix

pertaining to

-algia suffix

pain

-emesis suffix

vomiting

-itis suffix

inflammation

-plegia suffix

paralysis

-pnea suffix

breathing

-rrhea suffix

discharge

-spasm suffix

contraction

-iole & -ule

reduction in size

palmar

palm of hand

plantar

sole of foot

distal

further from something (relative)

proximal

closer to something (relative)

medial

towards the midline of the body

lateral

away from the midline of the body

anterior/ventral

front

posterior/dorsal

back

fowler position

seated

thyroid cartilage

term for the adam’s apple

ligaments

connects two bones

joints

connect bones to muscles

automaticity

the ability to generate and conduct electrical impulses

possessed by cardiac muscle in the heart

mandible

bone of the lower jaw

maxillae

fused bones of the upper jaw

orbits

bones that surround eyes

zygomatic arches

cheek bones

spinal column

33 vertebrae (separate bones)

thorax

common term for the chest

crepitation

crackling, popping sound produced by friction in the body

often indicating bones rubbing together or fluid in lungs

sacral edema

accumulation of excess fluid in tissue overlying sacrum (area at end of the spine)

jugular vein distension (JVD)

visible bulging or swelling or major veins on the side of the neck

-normal in supine patients

glottic opening

entry point into the larynx and trachea

epiglottis

protects the glottic opening and seals off trachea while swallowing

intact muscle tone

when a patient has control of the 14+ muscle groups that support the airway

bronchoconstriction

smooth muscle constricts the lower airway, decreasing the internal diameter (common in asthma)

stridor

high-pitched breathing sound
corresponds with severely restricted airflow in the upper airway, often due to obstruction

snoring

breathing sound that indicates the soft tissue in the upper airway is creating a partial obstruction

gurgling

breathing sound that indicates fluid is obstructing the airway
indicates suctioning

3 important questions in airway maintenance

1. Is the airway open?

2. Will the airway stay open?

3. Potential threats that may develop later?

what to look for when determining if an airway is open

• able to speak? (listen for stridor and hoarsesness)

• presence of breaths? sound?

• chest movement?

• visually inspect airway for obstruction

• patient position

• facial burns, neck trauma, bleeding

• mental status?

• skin color

• SPO2 following oxygen therapy

head-elevated, sniffing position

supine position with 1.5-2 inches of padding underneath patient head (shoulders for children)

ear should be at the same level as the top of the sternum

used for no suspected spinal injury

jaw-thrust maneuver

maneuver that opens the airway

used when there is a potential spinal injury

severe choking

indicates a fully blocked trachea

no breathing, coughing, speaking

conscious: abdominal thrusts / unconscious: CPR
children: alternate back blows and chest thrusts

alveolar ventilation

how much air in a breath actually reaches the alveoli

depends on both tidal volume and respiratory rate

minute volume

(tidal volume) x (respiratory rate)

amount of air moved into the lungs in one minute

pulmonary respiration

diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between alveoli and blood

cellular respiration

diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and cells of body

hypoxia

low levels of oxygen

hypercapnia

high levels of carbon dioxide

compensation in respiratory distress

increased respiratory rate, increased heart rate, constricted blood vessels

respiratory distress

respiratory challenges that compensatory mechanisms can meet the increased demands of
provide patient with supplemental oxygen

respiratory failure/inadequate breathing

rate, depth, or both fall outside the normal range

provide patient with assisted ventilations

respiratory arrest

the complete stoppage of breathing

provide patient with artificial respirations

artificial respiration rate for adults

10-12 breaths/min

artificial respiration rate for children

12-20 breaths/min

watch for bradycardia

typical adult breathing rate

12-20 breaths/min

typical child breathing rate

18-30 breaths/min

typical infant breathing rate

30-60 breaths/min

thoraco-abdominal breathing

when the chest and abdomen move in opposite directions

often seen in children with inadequate breathing

SPO2 reading of 95%+

no oxygen treatment required

SPO2 reading of 90-94%

treat with nasal cannula (flow rate of 2-6 lpm)

SPO2 reading below 90%

treat with non-rebreather mask (flow rate of 15-20 lpm)

when a patient’s breathing efforts are compromised

use bag-valve mask with appropriate oxygen distribution

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

disease that usually develops overtime due to lung irritants

causes chronic bronchitis and emphysema

emphysema

when the walls of alveoli break down, reducing their surface area

asthma

respiratory condition that involves flare-ups at irregular intervals

muscles of bronchioles contract and narrow the airway

often associated with wheezing