Vital Signs, Monitoring Devices, and History Taking Flashcards

These flashcards cover the key vital signs, patient assessment terminology, monitoring devices, and history-taking procedures from Chapter 11.

For stable patients, an EMT should take vital signs at least every how many minutes?

$15$ minutes

What vital sign is considered more reliable in infants and children than in adults?

capillary refill

What is the term used to describe a weak, rapid pulse?

thready

What is the term for a heart rate greater than $100$ beats per minute in an adult patient?

tachycardia

What skin color indicates anemia or emotional distress?

pale

What skin color indicates inadequate breathing or a heart attack?

blue-gray

What skin condition may indicate a spinal injury?

abnormally dry

Pupils that are unequal in size may be a sign of what conditions?

stroke or head injury

In the acronym SAMPLE, what does the letter "L" stand for?

last oral intake

What is the measurement of expired CO2 that typically provides a numeric display of the partial pressure of CO2?

Capnometry

What is the difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings called?

Pulse pressure

For unstable patients, an EMT should take vital signs at least every how many minutes?

$5$ minutes

If a patient is breathing more slowly than normal for their age, what medical term is used?

bradypnea

In patients younger than $1$ year, what pulse location should an EMT first attempt to assess?

brachial pulse

An adult patient's breathing is considered outside of normal rates when respirations are greater than how many breaths per minute?

$$20$$

What is the term for the harsh, high-pitched sound indicating labored breathing from partial airway occlusion?

stridor

In addition to nail beds and oral mucosa, where should the skin color of infants and dark-skinned patients be assessed?

palms and soles

What is the proper medical term for a blood pressure cuff?

sphygmomanometer

What is the term for taking blood pressure by feeling for the return of a pulse using fingertips and no stethoscope?

palpation

In the acronym SAMPLE, what does the letter "A" stand for?

allergies

What happens to the ETCO2 level if there is a decrease in cardiac output or a decline in metabolic activity?

decrease