EMT Scene Size-Up, Vital Signs, and Assessment Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering EMT lecture notes on scene size-up, vital signs, physical assessment mnemonics, and pharmacology basics.

Blunt force trauma

Injury caused by a blow that strikes the body but does not penetrate the skin or other body tissues.

Danger zone

The area around the wreckage of every vehicle collision, within which special safety precautions must be taken; size depends on nature and severity of hazards.

Index of suspicion

Awareness that there may be injuries based on the mechanism of injury.

Mechanism of injury (MOI)

What causes an injury, such as a fall on ice causing a twisting force to the ankle.

Nature of illness (NOI)

The purpose of finding out what is or what may be wrong with a medical patient, similar to identifying MOI.

Penetrating trauma

Injury caused by an object that passes through the skin or other body tissue.

Scene size-up

Steps taken when approaching an emergency call: checking scene safety, taking Standard Precautions, noting MOI or NOI, determining number of patients, and requesting additional resources.

The law of inertia

States that a body in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force, and a body at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an outside force.

Up-and-over pattern

A pathway where the patient follows a path over the steering wheel, commonly striking the head on the windshield.

Down-and-under pattern

A pathway where the patient follows a path under the steering wheel, typically striking the knees on the dash.

Severe fall height (Adult)

A fall of greater than $20\,ft$ ($6\,m$).

Severe fall height (Child)

A fall of greater than $10\,ft$ ($3\,m$) for child under $15$, or more than $2-3$ times the child's height.

Low-velocity items

Objects propelled by hands, such as knives, where injuries are typically limited to the area penetrated.

Medium-velocity items

Objects like handguns, arrows from a compound bow, or ballistic knives.

High-velocity items

High-powered or assault-type rifles that can cause damage almost anywhere in the body.

Auscultation

Listening, typically using a stethoscope to hear characteristic sounds.

Blood pressure

The force of blood against the walls of the blood vessel.

Brachial artery

The major artery of the arm.

Bradycardia

A slow pulse; any pulse rate below $60\,\text{beats per minute}$.

Carotid pulse

The pulse felt along the large carotid artery on either side of the neck.

Constrict

To get smaller.

Diastolic blood pressure

The pressure remaining in the arteries when the left ventricle of the heart is relaxed and refilling.

Dilate

To get larger.

Oxygen Saturation ($SpO_2$)

The ratio of the amount of oxygen present in the blood to the amount that could be carried, expressed as a percentage.

Palpation

Touching or feeling, such as using fingertips to feel a pulse or blood pressure.

Pulse oximeter

An electronic device for determining the amount of oxygen carried in the blood.

Pulse quality

Refers to the rhythm (regular or irregular) and force (strong or thready/weak) of the pulse.

Pulse rate

The number of pulse beats per minute.

Reactivity

Specifically regarding the pupils of the eyes, the act of changing size in response to light.

Respiration

The act of breathing in (inspiration) and breathing out (expiration).

Respiratory quality

The character of breathing, categorized as normal, shallow, labored, or noisy.

Sphygmomanometer

The cuff and gauge used to measure blood pressure.

Systolic blood pressure

The pressure created when the heart contracts and forces blood out into the arteries.

Tachycardia

A rapid pulse; any pulse rate above $100\,\text{beats per minute}$ for an adult.

Vital signs

Outward signs of internal body status, including respiration, pulse, skin color, temperature, condition, pupils, and blood pressure.

Baseline vital signs

The very first set of measurements taken for a patient.

Trending

Repeating and comparing subsequent vital signs to the baseline to observe progression in the patient's condition.

Thready pulse

A pulse characterized by a weak and thin force.

Normal Adult Respiratory Rate

Between $12$ and $20\,\text{breaths per minute}$.

Cyanotic

A blue-gray skin color caused by a lack of oxygen reaching red blood cells and tissues.

Jaundiced

A yellow skin color caused directly by liver abnormalities.

Mottled

A blotchy, multi-colored skin appearance found occasionally in shock patients.

Clammy

Skin that is simultaneously cool and moist.

Capillary refill

Technique used in children under $6\,\text{years old}$ to check circulation; normal threshold is no more than $2\,seconds$.

Hypertension

Systolic blood pressure $\ge 140\,mmHg$ or diastolic $\ge 90\,mmHg$.

Hypotension

Generally considered to exist in an adult when systolic pressure drops below $90\,mmHg$.

Mild Hypoxia

An $SpO_2$ reading between $91$ percent and $95$ percent.

Severe Hypoxia

An $SpO_2$ reading of $85$ percent or less.

Blood Glucose Meter

A device that evaluates glucose concentration, reported in $mg/dL$ in the United States.

Capnography

A method measuring the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled, providing both a numerical value and a visual wave graph.

End-Total Carbon Dioxide ($ETCO_2$)

The amount of carbon dioxide exhaled at the end of a respiratory cycle; normal range is $35-45\,mmHg$.

Chief complaint

The main reason the patient called EMS, usually expressed in the patient's own words.

OPQRST

Mnemonic used for a history of present illness: Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time.

SAMPLE

Mnemonic for past medical history: Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent history, Last oral intake, Events leading to illness.

DCAP-BTLS

Mnemonic for trauma physical exams: Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, Swelling.

PMS

Assessment used for extremities: Pulse, Motor, and Sensation.

Aspirin

Medication administered to patients with chest pain of a suspected cardiac origin.

Oral Glucose

Medication given to diabetic patients who are conscious and able to swallow.

Activated Charcoal

Medication used occasionally in poisoning cases to absorb ingested toxins.

Naloxone (NARCAN)

The antidote for patients in respiratory failure following a narcotic or opioid overdose.

Nitroglycerin

Medication prescribed for individuals with angina or a history of myocardial infarction to treat cardiac chest pain.

Epinephrine

Medication used to treat severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).

Inspiration

The active process of breathing in where intercostal muscles and the diaphragm contract.

Expiration

The passive process of breathing out where intercostal muscles and the diaphragm relax.

Bronchoconstriction

The narrowing or blockage of the bronchi leading from the trachea to the lungs, common in asthma.

CPAP

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; a form of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation used to prevent airway collapse.

Core Temperature

The level of heat inside the body's trunk; normal baseline is between $96.8^{\circ}F$ ($36^{\circ}C$) and $101.3^{\circ}F$ ($38.5^{\circ}C$).

Febrile

A term designating a patient who is feverish.

Septic

A state indicating a patient is suffering from a generalized infection.

Jugular Vein Distention (JVD)

Bulging of the neck veins, checked during the secondary assessment of the neck.

Crepitation

The grating sound or feeling of broken bones rubbing together.

Objective findings

Information that is observable, measurable, and verifiable.

Subjective findings

Information gathered from the patient's point of view that cannot be objectively verified, such as symptoms like pain level.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act which governs the confidentiality of patient information.

Prehospital Care Report (PCR)

The documentation used by EMS to record the events, findings, and care provided during a call.