Paramedic Study Guide Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering paramedic study material including drug dosages, resuscitation protocols, pediatric vital signs, ECG leads, burn formulas, and clinical mnemonics.

Infectious Diseases Medications

Amoxicillin, azithromycin, cefazolin (cefalazine), and clindamycin.

Gynecology Medications

Misoprostol, methotrexate, mifepristone, ethinylestradiol (ethinylacetradol), and levonorgestrel (levonorgestol).

Beta Blockers

Cardiology medications including metoprolol and carvedilol.

Adult Symptomatic Tachycardia Protocol

Synchronized cardioversion. For SVT: adenosine $6\,\text{mg}$ rapid push, then $12\,\text{mg}$ rapid push. Amiodarone $150\,\text{mg}$ over $10\,\text{min}$. Maintenance infusion for amiodarone is $1\,\text{mg/min}$ for the first $6\,\text{hours}$. Also applies to pulseless V-tach.

Adult Symptomatic Bradycardia Protocol

Treats rhythms such as first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree heart blocks and sinus bradycardia. Interventions: Transcutaneous pacing, atropine $1\,\text{mg}$ every $3$ to $5\,\text{minutes}$ (max $3\,\text{mg}$), dopamine IV infusion $5$ to $20\,\mu\text{g/kg/min}$ (titrate and taper), and epinephrine IV infusion $2$ to $10\,\mu\text{g/min}$.

Adult Cardiac Arrest Protocol (V-Fib / Pulseless V-Tach)

Shock, CPR $2\,\text{minutes}$, epinephrine $1\,\text{mg}$ bolus, amiodarone $300\,\text{mg}$ bolus (second dose $150\,\text{mg}$), and lidocaine first dose $1$ to $1.5\,\text{mg/kg}$ (second dose $0.5$ to $0.75\,\text{mg/kg}$).

Endocrine, Diabetic, and GU Medications

Tamsulosin, glipizide, metformin, furosemide (Lasix), and gabapentin.

Behavioral Medications

Alprazolam, amitriptyline, lithium, citalopram (cytocetallopram), duloxetine, risperidone, fluoxetine, sertraline, aripiprazole (ripezole), and trazodone.

Pediatric Normal Heart Rates

Neonate: $100$ to $205\,\text{bpm}$; Infant: $100$ to $180\,\text{bpm}$; Toddler: $98$ to $140\,\text{bpm}$; Preschool: $80$ to $120\,\text{bpm}$; School age: $75$ to $118\,\text{bpm}$; Adolescent: $60$ to $100\,\text{bpm}$.

Pediatric Normal Respiratory Rates

Infant: $30$ to $53\,\text{breaths/min}$; Toddler: $22$ to $37\,\text{breaths/min}$; Preschool: $20$ to $28\,\text{breaths/min}$; School age: $18$ to $25\,\text{breaths/min}$; Adolescent: $12$ to $20\,\text{breaths/min}$.

Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Protocol (V-Fib / Pulseless V-Tach)

Shock sequence: first shock $2\,\text{J/kg}$, second shock $4\,\text{J/kg}$, subsequent shocks $> 4\,\text{J/kg}$ (max $10\,\text{J/kg}$). Epinephrine $0.01\,\text{mg/kg}$. Amiodarone $5\,\text{mg/kg}$ (max $300\,\text{mg}$, may repeat).

Pediatric Endotracheal Tube Size Formulas

Uncuffed: $\frac{\text{Age in years}}{4} + 4$; Cuffed: $\frac{\text{Age in years}}{4} + 3.5$.

Pediatric Symptomatic Bradycardia Protocol

Transcutaneous pacing, epinephrine $0.01\,\text{mg/kg}$, atropine $0.02\,\text{mg/kg}$ (max dose $0.5\,\text{mg}$).

Pediatric Symptomatic Tachycardia Protocol

Synchronized cardioversion $0.5$ to $1\,\text{J/kg}$ (for V-Tach). For SVT: adenosine $0.1\,\text{mg/kg}$ (max $6\,\text{mg}$ rapid push).

Pediatric Fluid Shock Bolus

$20\,\text{mL/kg}$ (or $10\,\text{mL/kg}$ if poor cardiac function or hypotensive shock is suspected).

Fentanyl Dosing & Indications

$1\,\mu\text{g/kg}$, max $100\,\mu\text{g}$, repeat after $10\,\text{minutes}$. Good for abdominal pain. Side effects include hypotension and decreased respiratory rate.

Ketamine Dosing & Effects

Pain dose $0.2$ to $0.25\,\text{mg/kg}$; induction dose $2\,\text{mg/kg}$ IV or $4\,\text{mg/kg}$ IM. Side effects: vasodilates, releases catecholamines.

Morphine Dosing & Indications

$0.1\,\text{mg/kg}$, max $10\,\text{mg}$, repeat after $10\,\text{minutes}$. Indications: chest pain. Side effects include decreased respiratory rate and hypotension.

Albuterol Protocol & Crush/Hyperkalemia Interventions

$2.5\,\text{mg}$ in $3\,\text{mL}$ SVN. For crush syndrome/hyperkalemia, used with bicarb and calcium (helps potassium cross membrane barrier; mixing bicarb and calcium equals chalk).

Midazolam (Versed) Dosing

Seizure dose: $0.1\,\text{mg/kg}$, max $5\,\text{mg}$. Induction dose: $0.1\,\text{mg/kg}$, max $10\,\text{mg}$.

Diazepam Dosing

Seizure dose: $5\,\text{mg}$, max $30\,\text{mg}$.

Ondansetron (Zofran) Dosing

$4\,\text{mg}$ in $2\,\text{mL}$.

Tranexamic Acid (TXA) Dosing

$1\,\text{g}$ IV over $10\,\text{minutes}$.

Magnesium Sulfate Dosing (Preeclampsia)

$5\,\text{g}$ over $5\,\text{minutes}$ IV, or $8\,\text{g}$ IM ($4\,\text{g}$ in each glute).

Etomidate Dosing

Induction dose: $0.3\,\text{mg/kg}$, max $30\,\text{mg}$. Not for use in patients under $10\,\text{years}$ old.

Rocuronium Dosing

Paralytic induction dose: $0.6$ to $1.2\,\text{mg/kg}$. Maintenance dose: $0.1$ to $0.2\,\text{mg/kg}$.

Succinylcholine Dosing

Paralytic dose: $1$ to $1.5\,\text{mg/kg}$ IV (or $3$ to $4\,\text{mg/kg}$ IM), max $150\,\text{mg}$. Contraindicated in head trauma or with Versed.

Phenylephrine Dosing & Mechanism

$100$ to $200\,\mu\text{g}$ in $10\,\text{mL}$. Pure alpha agonist that vasoconstricts every $3$ to $5\,\text{minutes}$.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Assessment

Eye opening ($1$-$4$: $4$ spontaneous, $3$ to verbal, $2$ to pain, $1$ unresponsive); Verbal response ($1$-$5$: $5$ normal/oriented, $4$ confused, $3$ inappropriate words, $2$ inappropriate sounds, $1$ unresponsive); Motor response ($1$-$6$: $6$ normal/obeys, $5$ localizes pain, $4$ withdraws, $3$ decorticate, $2$ decerebrate, $1$ unresponsive).

Coronary Artery & Lead Location Mapping

LCX = Lateral (Leads I, aVL, V5, V6); LAD = Septal/Anterior (Septal V1, V2; Anterior V3, V4); RCA / PDA = Inferior (Leads II, III, aVF).

Burn Fluid Formulas

Parkland: $4\,\text{mL} \times \%\text{TBSA} \times \text{kg}$ (half given over first $8\,\text{hours}$, remaining over $16\,\text{hours}$); Brooks: $2\,\text{mL} \times \%\text{TBSA} \times \text{kg}$; Consensus range: $2$ to $4\,\text{mL} \times \%\text{TBSA} \times \text{kg}$; Electrical burn: $4$ to $6\,\text{mL} \times \%\text{TBSA} \times \text{kg}$; Pediatric burn: $3\,\text{mL} \times \%\text{TBSA} \times \text{kg}$.

ECG Axis Deviations

Left Axis Deviation: Lead I positive, aVL negative; Right Axis Deviation: Lead I negative, aVL positive; Extreme Axis Deviation: Lead I negative, aVL negative.

Bundle Branch Block Mnemonics

Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB) = William (V1 = W, V6 = M); Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB) = Morrow (V1 = M, V6 = W).

Heart Block ECG Characteristics

First-degree: prolonged PRI; Second-degree Type I: progressively prolonging PRI; Second-degree Type II: fixed PRI with extra P waves; Third-degree: P waves and QRS complexes march independently (P-Q march).

Cerebral Perfusion Pressure Formula

$\text{CPP} = \text{MAP} - \text{ICP}$ (related to Cushing's triad).