Emergency Care, 14th Edition - Chapter 13 - Vital Signs and Monitoring Devices

Baseline Vital Signs

the very first set of vital signs obtained on a patient

Pulse

Beat of the heart as felt through the walls of the arteries.

Rate and Quality

When taking a patient's pulse, you are concerned with two factors: _____ and _____.

24 and 8

And EMT should be concerned with an adult patient with a respiratory rate above ________ breaths per minute or below _______ breaths per minute.

inadequate

Snoring, wheezing, gurgling, and crowing are examples of _________ breathing.

Blood Pressure

the pressure that is exerted by the blood against the walls of blood vessels

Sign

objective evidence of disease such as a fever

symptom

subjective evidence of a disease, such as pain or a headache

60 mg/dL

A blood glucose level less than _________ is considered to be low.

eye level

In introducing themselves to a patient, EMT's should try to position themselves at _________ ________ with the patient.

Temperature Signs - 101*F

Probable Cause - Infection

Temperature Signs - 93*F

Probable Cause - Hypothermia

Temperature Signs - 105*F

Probable Cause - Heat Stroke

Respiratory Sound: Snoring

Possible cause/Interventions: Airway blocked/open patient’s airway; prompt transport

Respiratory Sound: wheezing

Possible cause/Interventions: Medical problem such as asthma/assist patient in taking prescribed medications; prompt transport

Respiratory Sound: gurgling

Possible cause/Interventions: Fluids in airway/suction airway;prompt transport

Respiratory Sound: crowing (harsh sounds when inhaling)

Possible cause/Interventions: Medical problems that cannot be treated on the scene/prompt transport

Skin color: pink

normal in light-skinned patients; normal at inner eyelids, lips, and nail beds of dark-skinned patients

Skin color: pale

Constricted blood vessels, possibly resulting from blood loss, shock, hypotension, emotional distress

Skin color: cyanotic

Lack of oxygen in blood cells and tissues resulting from inadequate breathing or heart function

Skin color: Flushed(red)

Exposure to heat, emotional excitement

Skin color: Jaundiced (yellow)

Abnormalities of the liver

Skin color: Mottled (blotchy)

Occasionally in patients with shock

Skin Temperature/Condition: Cool, clammy

Sign of shock, anxiety

Skin Temperature/Condition: Cold, moist

Body is losing heat

Skin Temperature/Condition: Cold, dry

Exposure to cold

Skin Temperature/Condition: Hot, dry

High fever, heat exposure

Skin Temperature/Condition: Hot, moist

High fever, heat exposure

Skin Temperature/Condition: goose bumps

Chills, communicable disease, exposure to cold, pain, or fear

Pupil Appearance: Dilated(large)

Fright, blood loss, drugs, prescription eye drops

Pupil Appearance: Constricted(small)

Drugs (narcotics, prescription eye drops

Pupil Appearance: Unequal

Stroke, head injury, eye injury, artificial eye, prescription eye drops

Pupil Appearance: Lack of reactivity

Drugs, lack of oxygen to brain

High blood pressure causes

Medical condition, exertion, fright, emotional distress, excitement

low blood pressure causes

athlete or other person with normally low blood pressure; blood loss; late sign of shock

no blood pressure cause

ventricular assistance device