Patient Care Fundamentals Chapter 8: Emergency Care, First Aid, and Disasters - Vocabulary Flashcards

Key vocabulary terms and definitions to review major Emergency Care, First Aid, and Disaster concepts.

abdominal thrusts

A method of attempting to remove an object from the airway of someone who is choking.

cardiac arrest

Sudden stopping/cessation of the heartbeat.

code team

Group of people chosen for a particular shift to respond to resident emergencies.

conscious

Having awareness of surroundings, sensations, and thoughts.

CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)

Medical procedures used when a person’s heart and lungs have stopped working.

diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

A life-threatening complication of diabetes that can result from undiagnosed diabetes, infection, not enough insulin, hyperglycemia, eating too much, not getting enough exercise, and stress.

emesis

The act of vomiting, or ejecting stomach contents through the mouth and/or nose.

epistaxis

A nosebleed.

expressive aphasia

Difficulty communicating through speech or writing.

first aid

Care given by the first people to respond to an emergency.

hemiparesis

Weakness on one side of the body.

hemiplegia

Paralysis of one side of the body.

hyperglycemia

High blood glucose (blood sugar).

hypoglycemia

Low blood glucose (blood sugar); also known as insulin reaction or insulin shock.

insulin reaction

A life-threatening complication of diabetes that can result from either too much insulin or too little food; also known as hypoglycemia or insulin shock.

myocardial infarction (MI)

A condition in which blood flow to the heart is blocked and muscle cells die; also called a heart attack.

obstructed airway

A condition in which the tube through which air enters the lungs is blocked.

receptive aphasia

Difficulty understanding spoken or written words.

respiratory arrest

Stopping/cessation of breathing.

shock

A condition that occurs when there is decreased blood flow to organs and tissues.

syncope

A temporary loss of consciousness; also called fainting.

incident report

Documentation of an emergency and completion of an incident report as soon as it is over, recording facts.

PPE

Personal protective equipment.

1st CAB

Circulation, Airway, Breathing.

DOTS

Deformities, Open wounds, Tenderness, Swelling.

FBAO

Foreign Body Air Obstruction; blockage of the airway by a foreign object.

Heimlich maneuver

Abdominal thrusts used to relieve an obstructed airway in a conscious person.

first-degree burn (superficial)

Burn that is painful, with redness, no edema, and redness that blanches with pressure.

second-degree burn (partial-thickness)

Burn that is blistered, moist, and painful.

third-degree burn (full thickness)

Burn that is dry, discolored, and not painful.

signs of shock

Pale or cyanotic skin, staring, increased pulse and respiration, low blood pressure, and extreme thirst.

poisoning

Exposure to a harmful substance with signs such as vomiting, difficult breathing, drowsiness, confusion, burns around the mouth.

coronary artery

The artery that supplies blood and oxygen to the heart muscle.

plaque buildup

Accumulation of plaque in an artery that can block blood flow.

myocardial infarction (MI) symptoms

Signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain, pain radiating to other areas, shortness of breath, nausea, and pale/clammy skin.

stroke (CVA)

A cerebrovascular accident; occurs when blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off.

TIA (transient ischemic attack)

A mini-stroke; a warning sign of a possible future stroke.

FAST

F: Face drooping, A: Arm weakness, S: Speech difficulty, T: Time to call 911 during a stroke.

diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) signs

Increased hunger/thirst, abdominal pain, deep/breathing, fruity breath, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and other symptoms indicating high blood glucose.

hyperglycemia signs

High blood sugar symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and confusion.