PBS 3.2 Emergency Response Review

Assessing

Evaluating or measuring the progress, performance, or quality of something to make informed decisions or judgments

Primary Assessments

Initial evaluations of a patient's condition to determine the urgency and nature of medical treatment needed. Includes vital signs, medical history, and physical examination

Secondary Assessment

The detailed examination of a patient's condition after the primary assessment to identify any additional injuries or medical issues

Mechanism of Injury (MOI)

the process or force that causes harm or damage to the body, often used in medical assessments to determine potential injuries

ABC’s of Primary Assessments

A - Airway B - Breathing C - Circulation Essential steps in assessing a patient's vital functions in emergency situations

Puppilary Response

Changes in the size of the pupils in response to light or other stimuli, used to assess neurological function

Anaphylaxis

Severe allergic reaction with symptoms like hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, and low blood pressure. Can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention

Skin Tugor

Skin's ability to return to normal after being pinched; indicates hydration levels and overall health. Test by pinching the skin on the back of the hand

Dehydration

Condition where the body loses more fluids than it takes in, leading to symptoms like dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness, and dark urine. Can be caused by illness, exercise, or inadequate water intake

Tonicity

the ability of a solution to cause a cell to gain or lose water. It is determined by comparing the concentration of solutes inside and outside the cell

Hypertonic

Solution with higher solute concentration than the cell, causing water to move out of the cell, leading to cell shrinkage

Hypotonic

A solution with lower solute concentration than the cell, causing water to move into the cell, potentially leading to cell swelling or bursting

Isotonic

A solution with the same concentration of solutes as the cells it surrounds, resulting in no net movement of water across the cell membrane

Saline

A solution of salt in water used for medical purposes, such as intravenous drips or nasal irrigation, to restore electrolyte balance or cleanse wounds

Positive Feedback Loop

A process where a change leads to an increase in that change, amplifying the initial effect. It reinforces and accelerates the direction of the change

Platelets

Thrombocytes or small, colorless cell fragments in our blood that form clots and stop or prevent bleeding

Platelets Plug

A hemostatic plug or platelet thrombus, is an aggregation of platelets formed during early stages of hemostasis in response to one or more injuries to blood vessel walls.

Direct Pressure

Bleeding from most injuries can be stopped by applying direct pressure to the injury. This keeps from cutting off the blood supply to the affected limb

Tourniquet

A tourniquet is a device that is used to apply pressure to a limb or extremity in order to create ischemia or stopping the flow of blood. It may be used in emergencies, in surgery, or in post-operative rehabilitation

Minor Bleeding

This includes things like small cuts and grazes. The bleeding often stops on its own, or after some pressure on the wound, and is not usually serious

Severe Bleeding

Blood is pumping from the wound. The bleeding does not stop or slow down with pressure. Blood is quickly soaking through bandage after bandage.

Triage

The process by which care providers such as medical professionals determine the order of priority for providing treatment to injured individuals

Triage Categories

Level 1 – Immediate: life threatening

Level 2 – Emergency: could become life threatening

Level 3 – Urgent: not life threatening

Level 4 – Semi-urgent: not life threatening

Level 5 – Non-urgent: needs treatment when time permits

Medical Surge

The ability to evaluate and care for a markedly increased volume of patients

Surge Capacity

The increased capacity available during mass casualty situations and disasters

Response Plan

The plan of action for the efficient deployment and coordination of services, agencies and personnel to provide the best response to an emergency