Emergency Response and Assessment Overview

Breathing and Asphyxiation

• Asphyxiation: Condition where an individual cannot breathe, often leading to brain death due to lack of oxygen to the brain.
  • Mechanism: Failure to breathe restricts oxygen supply, affecting brain function.

Function of the Brain Stem

• The brain stem is vital for automatic functions.
  • Controls actions like breathing, heartbeat, circulation, without conscious thought.

CPR and Emergency Response

• Emergency Assessment: When encountering a patient, determine if they are responsive.
  • Assess for cardiac arrest: Can experience respiratory arrest with a beating heart.
  • Verify circulation by checking for a pulse.

Choking Incidents

• Use abdominal thrusts for conscious victims (e.g., someone choking).
  • Common in infants due to their exploratory behavior with small objects/food.
  • Notable choking hazards: plastic toys and certain foods.

Urinary Output and Shock

• Anuria: A condition of zero urination, often during shock.
  • Body conserves fluid due to insufficient blood pressure.

Wound Types

• Closed Wounds: Bruises or contusions resulting from internal bleeding (subcutaneous).
  • Open Wounds: Require proper classification when caring for injuries.
  • Key types discussed include:
  • Puncture Wounds: Resulting from sharp objects penetrating the skin.
• Importance of defining wound types in surgical contexts (upcoming chapters).

Assessment and Nursing Interventions

• Key action: Always assess first, especially in emergencies.
  • Common mistake: Calling for a doctor instead of initiating nursing interventions.
  • Nurses implement immediate care before medical orders.
• If medication is involved, ensure there is a doctor's order or standing order.

Vital Sign Monitoring

• Keep track of essential signs: heart rate and blood pressure for assessing hypotension.

Emergency Situations

• Includes: drug and alcohol emergencies.
  • Important to promote good practices from the outset.
  • Prior background knowledge helps in responding to emergencies effectively.

Fractures and Their Classification

• Fracture: A break in the bone; two main classifications discussed:
  • Closed Fracture: Skin remains intact.
  • Open Fracture (Compound): Bone protrudes through the skin.
• Nursing role: Assess and stabilize fractures before further medical intervention.

Diagnostic Procedures

• Diagnostic interventions: Include procedures such as biopsies to confirm diagnoses.
  • Importance of understanding diagnoses as part of patient care.