Studied by 8 people
accessory muscles
the secondary muscles of respiration, they include the neck muscles (sternocleidomastoids), the chest pectoralis major muscles, and the abdominal muscles.
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
AVPU Scale
A method of Assessing the level of consciousness by determining whether the patient is awake and alert, responsive to verbal stimuli or pain, or unresponsive; used principally early in the assessment process.
Blood pressure
The pressure that the blood exerts against the wall of the arteries as it passes through them.
bradycardia
a slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min.
breath sounds
an indication of air movement in the lungs, usually assessed with a stethoscope.
Capillary refill
A test that evaluates distal circulatory system function by squeezing (blanching) blood from an area such as a nail bed and watching the speed of its return after releasing the pressure
Capnography
A noninvasive method to quickly and efficiently provide information on a patient’s ventilatory status, circulation, and metabolism effectively measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in expired air over time.
Carbon dioxide
A component of air that typically makes up 0.03% of air at sea level; also, a waste produce exhaled during expiration by the respiratory system.
Chief complaint
the reason a patient called for help; also, the patient’s response to questions such as “What’s wrong?” or “What happened?”
Conjunctiva
The delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the eyes.
Crackles
A cracking, rattling breath sound that signals fluid in the air spaces of the lungs
Crepitus
A granting or grinding sensation caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing together
Cyanosis
A blue skin discoloration that is caused by a reduced level of oxygen in the blood.
DCAP-BTLS
A mnemonic for assessment in which each area of the body is evaluated for deformities, contusions, abrasions, punctures/penetrations, burns, tenderness, lacerations, and Swelling
Diaphoretic
Characterized by light or profuse sweating.
Diastolic pressure
The pressure that remains in the arteries during the relaxing phase of the heart’s cycle when the left ventricle is at rest
Distracting injury
Any injury that prevents the patient from noticing other injuries he or she may have, even severe injuries; for example, a painful femur or tibia fracture that prevents the patient from noticing back pain associated with a spinal fracture.
field impression
The conclusion about the cause of the patient’s condition after considering the situation, history, and examination findings.
Focused assessment
A type of physical assessment typically performed on patients who have sustained nonsignificant mechanisms of injury or on responsive medical patients. This type of examination is based on the chief complaint and focuses on one body system or part.
Frostbite
Damage to tissues as the result of exposure to cold; frozen or partially frozen body parts are frostbitten.
General impression
The overall initial impression that determines the priority for patient care; based on the patient’s surroundings, the mechanism of injury, signs and symptoms, and the chief complaint
Golden Hour
The time from injury to definitive care, during which treatment of shock and traumatic injuries should occur because survival potential is best; also called the golden period
Guarding
Involuntary muscle contractions (spasm) of the abdominal wall; an effect to protect the inflamed abdomen.
history taking
a steep within the patient assessment process that provides detail about the patient’s chief complaint and an account of the patient’s signs and symptoms.
hypertension
blood pressure that is higher than the normal range
hypotension
blood pressure that is lower than the normal range
hypothermia
a condition in which the internal body temperature falls below 95F (35)
incident command system
a system implemented to manage disasters and mass- and multiple-casualty incidents in which section chiefs, including finance, logistics, operations, and planning, report to the incident commander.
jaundice
yellow skin or sclera that is caused by liver disease or dysfunction
labored breathing
breathing that requires greater than normal effort; may be slower or faster than normal and characterized by grunting, stridor and use of accessory muscles.
mean arterial pressure (MAP)
The average pressure in the curculatory system during one cardiac cycle.
mechanism of injury (MOI)
The forces, or energy transmission, applied to the body that cause injury.
Metabolism
The biochemical processes that result in the production of energy from nutrients with the cells
nasal flaring
widening of the nostrils, indicating that there is an airway obstruction
nature of illness (NOI)
The general type of illness a patient is experiencing.
OPQRST
a mnemonic used in evaluating a patient’s pain: onset, provocation/palliation, quality, region/radiation, severity, and timing.
orientation
the mental status of a patient as measured by memory of person (name), place (current location), time (current year, month, and approximate date), and event (what happened)
palpate
to examine touch
paradoxical motion
the motion of the portion of the chest wall that is detached in a flail chest; the motion - in during inhalation, out during exhalation - is exactly the opposite of normal chest wall motion during breathing.
perfusion
The flow of blood through body tissues and vessels
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Protective equipment that blocks exposure to a pathogen or a hazardous material
Pertinent negative
Negative findings that warrant no care or intervention.
Primary Assessment
a step within the patient assessment process that identifies and initiates treatment or immediate and potential lift threats
pulse
The wave of pressure created as the heart contracts and forces blood out the left ventricle and into the major arteries.
pulse oximetry
An assessment tool that measures oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the capillary beds.
reassessment
a step with the patient assessment process performed at regular intervals during the assessment process to identify and treat changes in patient condition
responsiveness
The way in which a patient responds to external stimuli, including verbal stimuli (sound), tactile stimuli (touch), and painful stimuli.
retractions
movements in which the skin pulls around the ribs during inspiration
rhonchi
coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways.
SAMPLE history
a brief history of patients; condition to determine signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent past history, last oral intake, and events leading to the injury or illness.
Scene size-up
a step within the patient assessment process that involves a quick assessment process that involves a quick assessment of the scene and the surroundings to provide information about scene safety and the mechanism of injury or nature of illness before you enter and begin patient care.
Sclera
The tough, fibrous, white portion of the eye that protects the more delicate inner structures
Secondary assessment
A step within the patient assessment process in which a systematic physical examination of the patient is performed. The examination may be a systematic exam or an assessment that focuses on a certain area or region of the body, often determined through the chief complaint.
Shallow respirations
Respiration characterized by little movement of the chest wall (reduced tidal volume) or poor chest excursion.
Sign
objective finding that can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, or measured.
Situational awareness
Knowledge and understanding of one’s surroundings and the ability to recognize potential risks to the safety of the patient or EMS
Sniffing position
An upright position in which the patient’s head and chin are thrust slightly forward to keep the airway open.
Spontaneous respirations
breathing that occurs without assistance.
Standard precautions
Protective measures that have traditionally and developed by the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) for use in dealing with objects, blood, body fluids, and other potential exposure risks of communicable disease.
Stridor
A harsh, high-pitched, respiratory sound, generally heard during inspiration, that is caused by partial blockage or narrowing of the upper airway; may by audible without a stethoscope.
Subcutaneous emphysema
A characteristic crackling sensation is felt on palpation of the skin, caused by the presence of air in soft tissues. (Air under the skin)
symptom
subjective findings that the patient feels but that can be identified only by the patient
Systolic pressure
The increased pressure in an artery with each contraction of the ventricles
Tachycardia
a rapid heart rate, more than 100 beats/min.
Tidal volume
The amount of air (in milliliters) that is moved into or out of the lungs during one breath.
Triage
The process of establishing treatment and transportation priorities according to severity of injury and medical need.
Tripod position
An upright position in which patient leans forward onto two arms stretched forward and thrusts the head and chin forward.
two-to-three-word dyspnea
A severe breathing problem in which patient can speak only two to three words at a time without pausing to take a breath
Vasoconstriction
Narrowing of a blood vessel.
Vital signs
The key signs that are used to evaluate the patient’s overall condition, including respirations, pulse, blood pressure, level of consciousness, and skin characteristics .
Wheezing
A high-pitched, whistling breath sound that is most prominent on expiration and which suggest an obstruction or narrowing of lover airways, occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis.
pregnant
You should consider all women of childbearing years who are complaining of lower abdominal pain _____
Blunt trauma
refers to an injury of the body by forceful impact with a dull object
Penetrating trauma
an injury that occurs when an object pierces the skin and enters a tissue of the body, creating an open wound
residual volume
the amount of gas remaining in the lung at the end of a maximal exhalation.
auscultation
listening
ABC’s
airway, breathing, circulation.
LOC
Level of consciousness
Deformity
Misshapen body parts (e.g., the arm or leg is no longer straight)
Contusions
Bruising; a collection of blood under the skin
Abrasions
Loss or damage to the surface of the skin from rubbing or scraping.
Punctures
A small penetration through the skin into the soft tissue
Burns
Redness, blisters, r white areas of skin
Tenderness
Pain when an area is palpated.
Lacerations
A dep cut in the skin.
Swelling
A raised or enlarged are of soft tissues on the surface of the body.
High-priority patients
Unresponsive
Difficulty breathing
Uncontrolled breathing
Altered LOC
Severe chest pain
Pale skin or other signs of poor perfusion
Complicated childbirth
Severe pain in any area of body
Documented Information
Date of the incident
Patient’s age
Patient’s sex
Patient’s race
Past medical history, including any pertinent information about the patient’s condition. such as medical problems, traumatic injuries and surgical procedures
Patient’s current health status, including diet. medications, drug use, living environment and hazards, physician’s visits, and family history.
85 to 205 beats/min
Infants 0 - 3 months heart rate
100 to 190 beats/min
Infants and toddlers (3 month to 2 years) heart rate
60 to 140 beats/min
Preschoolers and school-aged children (2 years to 10 years) heart rate
60 to 100 beats/min
Adults and children (Older than 10 years) heart rate
12 to 20 breaths
adults breaths
12 to 16 breaths
adolescents (13 to 18 years old) breaths
18 to 30 breaths
School-aged children (6 to 12 years old) breaths
22 to 34 breaths
Preschoolers (4 to 5 years old) breaths
24 to 40 breaths
toddlers (1 to 3 years old) breaths
30 to 60 breaths
Infants breaths
radial artery
Major artery in the human forearm
Note 
Flashcard (116)