Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Initial Assessment and Trauma Review

Flashcards based on lecture notes covering Patient Assessment (Medical and Trauma), History Taking mnemonics, and Pulse Point identification.

BSI

Person protective equipment aka gloves.

Scene Size Up:

BSI, Scene Safe, # of patients, call for additional resources, c-spine stabilization, Determine NOI

Primary Survey

Life Threats/Major Bleeding Check, general impression, chief complaint, LOC (APVU), airway assessment, breathing assessment (rate, depth, quality), circulation assessment ( pulse rate, quality, skin condition), transport decison

History Taking

SAMPLE: signs/symptoms, allergies, medication, past medical history, last oral intake, events leading up to

OPQRST: Onset (sudden or gradual), Provocation (anything make it better or worse?), Quality (What does it feel like? Sharp, Dull, heavy), Radiation (Does it go anywhere else in your body or is it in one spot), Severity (0-10), Time (What time/ how long ago)

Secondary Assessment

VITALS: Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Respiratory rate, SpO2 ( Oxygen Saturation), Skin, Pupils, Lung Sounds, Blood Glucose, Temperature

MOI

Mechanism of injury for trauma.

NOI

Nature of illness for medical.

AVPU

A mnemonic used to determine LOC that stands for alert, verbal, painful, and unresponsive.

LOC

Level of consciousness.

ABC

A primary assessment component consisting of airway, breathing, and circulation.

Airway Assessment

Checking if the airway is clear and determining if there is a need for suction.

Breathing Assessment

Evaluating the rate, depth, and quality of a patient's breathing.

Circulation Evaluation

Evaluating skin appearance, capillary refill, and pulse ox to determine shock and transport priority.

Vitals (Full Set)

Includes blood pressure, heart rate, SpO2, respiratory rate and quality, lung sounds, and blood glucose.

SAMPLE

History taking mnemonic: Signs/symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent past medical history, Last oral intake, and Events leading up to.

OPQRST

History taking mnemonic: Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, and Time.

Severity (OPQRST)

Measured on a scale of $0-10$.

Radio Report

A short and sweet report to the receiving hospital including who you are, what you have, what you've done, what has changed, and when you'll be there.

DCAPBLSTIC

Trauma mnemonic for head-to-toe assessment: Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures, Burns, Lacerations, Swelling, Tenderness, Instability, and Crepitus.

CSF

Cerebral spinal fluid; checking for it in the ears and nose is an indication of spinal injury.

Halo test

A test performed to check for the presence of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF).

PEARRL

Pupils equal and round + relative to light, and making sure the airway is clear of teeth or blood.

JVD

Jugular vein distention.

Subcutaneous emphysema

Bubbling under the skin that can occur when there's a transection in the airway from trauma.

Palpate

To touch or feel during a physical examination.

Auscultate

To listen to lung sounds.

Evisceration

An opening in the abdominal cavity that has protruding organs due to trauma.

Pelvic binder

A device used to control internal bleeding when instability is found in the pelvis.

PMS

Pulse, Motor, Sensory; checked in every extremity.

Finger walk down

A technique used to feel the entire spine for any deformities or step offs during a log roll.

C collar

Equipment used for C-spine precautions in trauma cases.

Carotid pulse

Pulse point located in the neck.

Brachial pulse

Pulse point in the bicep used mainly for pediatric and infant pulses.

Radial pulse

Pulse point in the wrists on the side of the thumb.

Femoral pulse

Pulse point in the inner groin area.

Popliteal pulse

Pulse point located behind the knee.

Pedal pulse

Pulse point located on top of the foot.