EMT (part 5)

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radial artery

artery of the lower arm; the artery felt when taking the pulse at the thumb side of the wrist

radial pulse

the pulse felt at the wrist

radiation

sending out energy, such as heat, in waves into space

radius

the lateral bone of the forearm

rapid trauma assessment

a rapid assessment of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, extremities, and posterior of the body to detect signs and symptoms of injury

reactivity

in the pupils of the eyes, reacting to light by changing size

reasssessment

a procedure for detecting changes in a patients condition. It involves four steps: repeating the primary assessment, repeating and recording vital signs, repeating the physical exam, and checking interventions

recovery position

lying on the side

lateral recumbent position

red blood cells

components of the blood. They carry oxygen to and carbon dioxide away from the cells

referred pain

pain that is felt in a location other than where the pain originates

rem

roentgen equivalent (in) man; a measure of radiation dosage

renal failure

loss of the kidneys ability to filter the blood and to remove toxins and excess fluid from the body

renal system

the body system that regulates fluid balance and the filtration of blood. Urinary system

repeater

a device that picks up signals from lower-power radio units, such as mobile and portable radios, and retransmits them at a higher power. It allows low-power radio signals to be transmitted over longer distances

reproductive system

the body system that is responsible for human reproduction

res ipsa loquitur

a latin term meaning ‘the thing speaks for itself’

resilience

toughness; an ability to recover quickly form difficult situations

respiration

the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the blood (pulmonary respiration) and between the blood and the cells (cellular respiration), act of breathing in and out

respiratory arrest

when breathing completely stops

respiratory distress

increased work of breathing; a sensation of shortness of breath

respiratory failure

the inadequacy of breathing to the point where oxygen intake or the ventilation removal f CO is not sufficient to support life

respiratory quality

the normal or abnormal(shallow, labored, or noisy) character of breathing

respiratory rate

the number of breaths taken in one minute

respiratory rhythm

the regular or irregular spacing of breaths

respiratory system (pulmonary system)

the system of nose, mouth, throat, lungs, and muscles that brings oxygen into the body and expels CO.

reticular activating system (RAS)

series of neuralgic circuits in the brain that control the functions of staying awake, paying attention, and sleeping

retroperitoneal space

the area posterior to the peritoneum, between the peritoneum and the back

return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)

the heart beating again after successful resusitation

rooting reflex

a reflex response in which a hungry infant automatically turns toward the stimulus when the cheek or one side of the mouth is touched

routes of entry

pathways into the body, generally by absorption, ingestion, injection, inhalation

rule of nines

a method for estimating the extent of a burn. For an adult, each of the following areas representing 9% of the body surface: thread and neck, each upper extremity, the chest, the abdomen, the upper back, the lower back and buttocks, the front of each lower extremity, and the back of each lower extremity. The remaining 1% is assigned to the genital region

rule of palm

a method for estimating the extent of a burn. The palm and fingers of the patient’s own hand, which make up about 1% of the body’s surface area, are compared with the patients burn to estimate its size

“safe haven” law

a law that permits a person to drop off an infant or child at a police, fire, or EMS station or to deliver the infant or child to any available public safety personnel. The infant of the law is to protect children who Amy otherwise be abandoned or harmed by parents who are unable or unwilling to care for them

SAMPLE

a memory aid in which the letters stand for elements of the past medical history: signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent past history, last oral intake, and events leading to the injury or illness

scaffolding

building on what one already knows

scapula

the shoulder blade

scene size-up

steps taken when approaching the scene of an emergency call: checking scene safety, taking Standard precautions, noting mechanism of injury or nature of illness, determining the number of patients and deciding what additional resources to calls

shizophrenia

a chronic mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with severe or untreated may seem like they have lost touch with reality

school age

6 to 12 years old

scope of practice

a set of regulations and ethical considerations that define the scope or extent and limits of EMT

secondary device (multiple devices)

destructive devices, bombs, placed to be activated after initial attack and times to injure emergency responders and others who rush in to help care for those targeted by an initial attack

seizure

a sudden change in sensation, behavior, or movement. The most severe form of seizure produces violent muscle contractions called convulsioins

sepsis

a life-threatening cognition resulting form a abnormal and counterproductive response by the body that causes damage to tissues and organs. The body overeats and secrets substances that, instead of helping, hurt cells, tissues, and organs

shock (hypoperfusion)

the body’s inability to circulate blood adequately to the body’s cells to supply them with oxygen and nutrients, which is a life-threatening conditions

sickle cell anemia (SCA)

an abnormally low number of RBCs in the circulation due to sickle cell disease

sickle cell disease (SCD)

an inherited disease in which patients have a genetic defect in their hemoglobin that results in an abnormal structure of the red blood cell

side effect

any action of a drug other than the desired action

sign

something regarding the patients condition that you can see

single incident command

command organization in which a single agency controls all resources and operations

skeleton

the bones of the body

skin

the layer tissue between the body and the external environment

skull

the bony structure of the head

slander

fasle, injurious information stated verbally

small intestine

the muscular tube between the stomach and the large intestine, divided into the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum, the receives partially digested food from the stomach and continues digestion. Nutrients are absorbed by the body through its walls

sphygmomanometer

the cuff and gauge used to measure blood pressure

spinal motion restriction

the procedure for limiting movement of the head, neck, and spine when spinal injury is possible or likely

spinous process

the bony bump on a vertebra

spleen

an organ located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen that acts as a blood filtration system and a reservoir for reserves of blood

spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)

when the fetus and placenta deliver before the 20th week of pregnancy

sprain

the stretching and tearing of ligaments

staging area

the area where ambulances are parked and other resources are held until needed

staging supervisor

person responsible for overseeing ambulances and ambulance personnel at a multiple-casualty incident

Standard precautions

a strict form on infection control that is based on the assumption that all blood and other body fluids are infectious

standing orders

a policy or protocol issued by a Medical Director that authorizes EMTs and others to perform particular skills in certain situations

status epilepticus

a prolonged seizure or situation when a person suffers two or more convulsive seizures without regaining full consciousness

sternum

the breastbone

stillborn

born dead

stoma

a surgically created permanent opening into the body, as with a tracheostomy, colorstomy, or ileostomy

stomach

muscular sac between the esophagus and the small intestine where digestion of food begins

strain

muscle injury resulting over stretching or overexertion of the muscle

strategies

broad general plans designed to achieve desired outcomes

stress

a state of physical and or psychological arousal to a stimulus

stretch receptors

sensors in blood vessels that identity internal pressure

stridor

a high-pitched sound generated from partially obstructed airflow in the upper airway

stroke (cerebrovascular accident, CVA)

a condition of altered function caused when an artery in the brain is blocked or ruptured, disrupting the supply of oxygenated blood or caused bleeding into the brain

stroke volume

the amount of blood ejected from the heart in one contraction

subcutaneous layers

the layers of fat and soft tissues found below the dermis

sucking reflex

a reflex in which stroking a hungry infants lips causes the infant to start sucking

sucking chest wound

a penetrating chest wound in which air is “sucked” into the chest cavity

suctioning

use of vacuum device to remove blood, vomitus, and other secretions or foreign materials from the airway

sudden cardiac arrest

a cardiac arrest occurring due to the abrupt onset on the dysrhythmia

sudden death

a cardiac arrest that occurs within 2 hours of the onset of symptoms. The patient may have no prior symptoms of coronary artery disease

superficial burn (first-degree burn)

a burn that involves only the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin. It is characterized by reddening of the skin and perhaps some swelling. A common example is the sunburn

superior

toward the head

EX: chest is superior to the abdomen

supine hypotensive syndrome

dizziness and a drop in blood pressure caused when the mother is in a supine position and the weight of the uterus, infant, placenta, and amniotic fluid compress the interior vena cava, reducing return of blood to the heart and cardiac output

supine

lying on the back

surge capacity

a measurable representation of ability of medical facility to manage a sudden influx of patients. It is dependent on variety of variables, including the number of open beds, physical space, supplies, staff, and any special considerations (such as contaminated or contagious patients)

symptom

something regarding the patient’s condition that the patient tells you

syncope

fainting

systemic vascular resistance

the pressure in the peripheral blood vessel that the heart must overcome to pump blood into the system

systolic blood pressure

the pressure created in the arteries when then left ventricle contracts and forces blood out into circulation