EMT-B Lecture Review Notes: Vital Signs, Assessment, and Emergency Protocols

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering vital signs, pediatric assessment, pharmacological interventions, trauma management, and emergency clinical signs based on the EMT-B lecture transcript.

Ideal Blood Pressure Range

100-139 / <100\,mmHg

Ideal Heart Rate Range

$$60-100\,beats\,per\,minute$$

Ideal SPO2 Range

$$95-100\%$$

Ideal Respiratory Rate Range

$$12-20\,breaths\,per\,minute$$

Ideal Temperature Range

$$96.8-98.9\,^{\circ}F$$

Ideal FSBG Range

$$70-120\,mg/dL$$

Tachycardia

A high heart rate.

Bradycardia

A low heart rate that can signal distress.

Albuterol

A bronchodilator used for wheezing and asthma attacks that relaxes airway muscles.

Atrovent

A bronchodilator for asthma often used in conjunction with Albuterol.

Epinephrine

Medication administered for anaphylaxis that works by constricting blood vessels and opening airways.

Aspirin

Used for chest pain and suspected myocardial infarction; prevents platelet aggregation to reduce clot formation.

Nitroglycerin

A sublingual vasodilator for chest pain; contraindicated in hypotension and with certain erectile dysfunction medications.

Narcan (Naloxone)

Used for opioid overdoses; reverses effects of opioids on the respiratory system and is administered intranasally.

AVPU

A scale used to determine responsiveness and level of consciousness during the primary survey.

SAMPLE

Acronym for History Taking: Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past pertinent history, Last oral intake, Events leading to illness.

OPQRST

Acronym for History of Present Illness: Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time.

Nasal Cannula

Delivers $2-6\,LPM$; suitable for conscious patients with $SPO2$ of $88-94\%$.

Non-Rebreather Mask

Delivers $10-15\,LPM$; used for patients with SPO2 < 88\%.

Bag-Valve Mask (BVM)

Used for unconscious patients who cannot breathe adequately on their own; delivers $6-8\,LPM$.

Nebulizer

Assists with delivery of Albuterol/Atrovent at $6-10\,LPM$ for wheezing patients.

Head Tilt-Chin Lift

Airway opening technique used for non-trauma patients.

Jaw-Thrust Maneuver

Airway opening technique used for trauma patients to prevent spinal injury.

Normal Capillary Refill Time

< 2\,seconds

NPA (Nasopharyngeal airway device) Contraindication

Contraindicated when a patient has facial trauma with a suspected basilar skull fracture.

Max Interval for Suctioning (Adult)

$$15\,seconds$$

Max Interval for Suctioning (Pediatric)

$$10\,seconds$$

Pneumothorax

A condition to consider if lung sounds are diminished or air is only moving on one side of the chest, generally trauma related.

Snoring Respirations

A sign suggesting the tongue is obstructing the airway.

Flail Segment (Flail Chest)

Paradoxical motion where three or more consecutive ribs are broken in more than one spot, causing a floating section of chest wall; treated with positive pressure ventilation.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Indicated by cherry red skin, dizziness, and lightheadedness at home.

Croup

A viral infection in children causing a seal-bark like cough.

Epiglottitis

A bacterial infection in children characterized by drooling, sore throat, fever, and tripod positioning.

Kussmaul Respirations

Deep, rapid breathing found in Diabetic Ketoacidosis patients.

Tripod Position

Sitting down and leaning forward, indicating a struggle for breathing and respiratory distress.

Beck's Triad

Signs of cardiac tamponade: hypotension, jugular venous distension (JVD), and muffled heart sounds.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

A condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs due to left-sided heart failure.

Pedal Edema

Fluid accumulation in the lower extremities often associated with right-sided heart failure.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The 'fight or flight' system that increases heart rate and decreases intestinal activity.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The 'Rest and Digest' system that slows heart rate and increases digestion.

S1 (Lub)

Sound produced by the closure of atrioventricular valves at the start of ventricular contraction.

S2 (Dub)

Sound produced by the closure of semilunar valves at the end of ventricular contraction.

Adult CPR Compression Depth

$$2-3\,inches$$

Compression Rate (All Ages)

$$100-120\,compressions\,per\,minute$$

Single Rescuer CPR Ratio

$30:2$ (compressions to ventilations)

2-Rescuer Infant CPR Ratio

$15:2$ (compressions to ventilations)

ROSC

Return of Spontaneous Circulation; when a pulse returns during CPR.

Ischemic Stroke

Caused by a clot restricting blood flow to the brain, leading to oxygen deprivation.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

A temporary clot that resolves within $24\,hours$ with symptoms that resolve on their own.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A brain bleed, often associated with high blood pressure.

Thrombolytic Therapy Window

Eligibility for stroke patients if symptoms occurred within $3-4.5\,hours$.

A&O x 4

Alertness and orientation assessment checking awareness of Person, Place, Time, and Event.

Appendicitis

Should be suspected in patients presenting with RLQ (Right Lower Quadrant) pain.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

Characterized by tearing abdominal pain radiating to the back and potentially a pulsating mass.

Jaundice

Yellowing of the skin or eyes associated with liver failure, hepatitis C, or liver abnormalities.

Tuberculosis

Indicated by coughing up bloody sputum; highly contagious and requires proper PPE.

Excited Delirium

Frenzied behavior, agitation, hostility, and diaphoresis; can be fatal and requires ALS sedation.

Heat Stroke

A condition where the patient can no longer sweat, leading to altered mental status and hypotension.

Gravida

The total number of pregnancies a woman has had, regardless of the outcome.

Para

The number of pregnancies that have resulted in viable offspring.

Placenta Previa

Painless bright red vaginal bleeding after $20\,weeks$ due to abnormal placement of the placenta.

Abruptio Placenta

Premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, presenting with painful abdomen and vaginal bleeding.

Pre-eclampsia

Condition characterized by hypertension and swelling during pregnancy.

Meconium Staining

Greenish or brownish yellow amniotic fluid resulting from fetal defecation.

Nuchal Cord

When the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby's neck during delivery.

Prolapsed Cord

When the umbilical cord presents first and is squeezed; the only time a hand may be inserted into the vagina to lift the baby's head.

APGAR Scale

Assessment at 1 and 5 minutes after birth: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration.

XABC

Prioritization in trauma where Exsanguination (severe blood loss) is treated before Airway, Breathing, and Circulation.

Coup Injury

Anterior injury of the brain (front).

Countercoup Injury

Posterior injury of the brain (back).

Greenstick Fracture

A partial fracture where one side of the bone is broken; common in children.

NFPA 704 Tetrahedron (Blue)

Indicates Health hazards.

NFPA 704 Tetrahedron (Red)

Indicates Fire hazards.

NFPA 704 Tetrahedron (Yellow)

Indicates Reactivity hazards.

NFPA 704 Tetrahedron (White)

Indicates Specific hazards.

Helicopter Landing Zone Dimensions

Minimum of $100' \times 100'$.

Decontamination Zone

The Warm zone.

Span of Control

The optimal number of individuals per leader: $3-7$ (with $5$ being ideal).

START Triage (Red)

Priority 1; critical life-threatening injuries requiring immediate attention.

START Triage (Black)

Priority 4; patients who are deceased or have fatal injuries.

GCS Perfect Score

$$15$$

GCS Lowest Score

$$3$$

Third Degree Burn (Full Thickness)

The skin appears white, gray, or leathery, and the patient feels no pain directly at the area.

Rule of Nines (Adult Head/Neck)

$$9\%$$

Rule of Nines (Adult Leg)

$$18\%$$

Rule of Palms

The patient's palm represents approximately $1\%$ of their total body surface area.

SLUDGEM

Nerve agent poisoning symptoms: Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, GI distress, Emesis, Muscle twitching.

Priapism

A non-aroused erection normally associated with spinal injury.

Hemiparesis

One-sided weakness.

Cushing's Triad

Signs of increased intracranial pressure: Hypertension, Bradycardia, and Irregular Respirations.