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Gather information with senses
Assess
Evaluate the scene
Size-up
Control the situation, identify hazards, and ensure safety
Primary assessment
Determine the health conditions of the patient and bystanders and observe threats
Secondary assessment
Head-to-toe examination of the patient and taking vitals
Steps of primary assessment
Forma a general impression of the patient, determine the mechanism of injury, determine the patient’s responsiveness, consider stabilizing the patient’s spine, and check the ABCs
What is the mechanism of injury
What caused the damage
What are the ABCs
Airway, breathing, circulation
Why do they stabilize a patient’s spine
Not stabilizing a patient’s spine could lead to a cervical fracture
Cervical fracture
A broken neck from excessive force on the spine
What can a cervical fracture cause
It can result in a spinal cord injury that can lead to loss of sensation, paralysis, or death
Stridor
Noisy breaths, wheezing due to a constricted airway
Bag-valve-mask resuscitator
A bag with a hand-held pump for manual ventilation
Ventilation
The provision of air
Steps of secondary assessment
Perform rapid physical assessment, take vitals, get a patient history, and provide appropriate emergency care
Pupillary response
The involuntary change in pupil size
Constriction
The narrowing of the pupil
Dilation
The widening of the pupil
Pupillary reflex
The response of the opposite eye when light is shone
Intubate
The inserting a tube for ventilation
Endotracheal tube
A tube used for ventilation
Skin turgor
The measure of elasticity of the skin
What does skin turgor indicate
Dehydration
Antigens
Anything that stimulates immune response
Antibodies
Works to impair pathogens
Anaphylaxis
A severe systemic allergic reaction that affects multiple organ systems
What organ systems does anaphylaxis affect
Respiratory and integumentary
What are the symptoms of anaphylaxis
Swelling, hives, flushed skin, nausea, and dizziness
Histamine
A chemical released upon contact with an allergen
What does histamine cause
It causes the dilation of blood cells, increased heart rate, and gland secretion
What does histamine do when partnered with other chemicals
It can cause the closing of the airway and increased blood cell permeability
Bronchoconstriction
The inflammation and constriction of airways
What treats anaphylaxis
Epinephrine/Epi-pens
What does epinephrine do
It increases blood flow and opens the throat so the person can breathe
Enteral
Enters through the digestive tract
Parenteral
Medication that enters the body in a way other than the digestive tract
What are the two types of enteral medication
Oral and rectal
What are the three types of parenteral medication
Inhaled, topical, injection, and infusion
Oral
Swallowed/dissolved in the mouth and absorbed there
Example of oral medication
Pills/liquids
Rectal
Absorbed through the rectum
Example of rectal medication
Suppositories and enemas
Inhaled
Breathed in through the nose or inhaled through the lungs
Example of inhaled medication
Nasal spray or inhalers
Topical
Applied on a specific inflamed site
Example of topical medication
Skin creams, ointments, ear drops, and eye drops
Injection
Medication delivered for quick absorption through the bloodstream
Example of injected medication
Shots
Infusion
Delivered through veins/bloodstream over a period of time
Example of infused medication
Intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous
Intravenous injection
Injected directly into the veins
When do you use intravenous injection
When medicine is needed quickly, it can’t be taken orally, or it is too irritating for intramuscular or subcutaneous injection
Intramuscular injection
Injected into muscle tissue to be absorbed by the bloodstream
When do you use intramuscular injection
When you need something quicker than subcutaneous and easier than an IV
Subcutaneous
Injected into the tissue under the skin and above the muscle
When do you use subcutaneous injection
When the medication needs to diffuse throughout the body
Dehydration
When the body loses more fluids than is being taken in
Causes of dehydration
Not drinking enough water, excessive vomiting, sweating, or diarrhea
Symptoms of severe dehydration
Weakness, fainting, increased heart rate, increased respiration rate, and shock
Treatment for mild dehydration
Drinking extra water/sports drinks
Treatment for severe dehydration
Medical intervention, IV
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