EMR




🫁 Respiratory Emergencies

  • Asthma: Bronchospasm/mucus. Buzzwords: Wheezing, tripod position. Treatment: Albuterol, O2.


  • COPD (Emphysema/Bronchitis): Damaged alveoli/chronic mucus. Buzzwords: Barrel chest, pursed-lip breathing, chronic cough. Treatment: CPAP, O2.


  • Pneumonia: Lung infection. Buzzwords: Fever, localized crackles, green sputum. Treatment: O2, transport.


  • Pulmonary Embolism (PE): Blood clot in lung. Buzzwords: Sudden dyspnea, clear breath sounds, recent surgery/travel. Treatment: High-flow O2.


  • Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Ruptured lung bleb. Buzzwords: Sudden sharp pain, unequal breath sounds, tall/thin males. Treatment: O2, monitor for tension pneumo.


  • Hyperventilation Syndrome: Excessive blowing off of CO2. Buzzwords: Carpopedal spasms (cramped hands). Treatment: Coach breathing, O2.


  • Epiglottitis: Swollen epiglottis. Buzzwords: Drooling, stridor, high fever. Treatment: DO NOT inspect airway, keep calm, rapid transport.


  • Croup: Swollen trachea/pharynx. Buzzwords: Seal-bark cough, stridor, age < 3. Treatment: Humidified O2.


  • Pertussis (Whooping Cough): Buzzwords: Coughing spells ending in a "whoop." Treatment: PPE (highly contagious), O2.


🫀 Cardiovascular Emergencies

  • Angina Pectoris (Stable/Unstable): Heart ischemia. Buzzwords: Chest pain relieved by rest/Nitro (stable) or NOT relieved (unstable). Treatment: Aspirin, Nitro, O2.


  • Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI): Heart muscle death. Buzzwords: Crushing chest pain radiating to jaw/arm, diaphoresis, impending doom. Treatment: Aspirin, Nitro, rapid transport.


  • Left-Sided CHF: Fluid in lungs. Buzzwords: Pulmonary edema, pink frothy sputum, orthopnea, crackles. Treatment: CPAP, sit upright.


  • Right-Sided CHF / Cor Pulmonale: Fluid in body. Buzzwords: JVD, pedal edema. Treatment: O2, sit upright.


  • Aortic Aneurysm/Dissection: Tearing aorta. Buzzwords: Tearing back pain, unequal pulses. Treatment: Gentle handling, NO Aspirin.


  • Hypertensive Emergency: BP > 180/120. Buzzwords: Bounding pulse, ringing in ears, severe headache. Treatment: Elevate head, calm environment.


  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Clot in leg. Buzzwords: Unilateral calf swelling/warmth. Treatment: DO NOT massage leg.


  • Cardiac Arrest: Shockable rhythms: V-Fib, pulseless V-Tach. Non-shockable: Asystole, PEA. Treatment: High-quality CPR, AED.


🧠 Neurological Emergencies

  • Ischemic Stroke: Clot in brain. Buzzwords: Unilateral weakness, facial droop, aphasia (speech difficulty). Treatment: CPSS assessment, note time last known well.


  • Hemorrhagic Stroke: Bleed in brain. Buzzwords: "Worst headache of my life," rapid decline. Treatment: Elevate head slightly, rapid transport.


  • Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Mini-stroke. Buzzwords: Stroke symptoms that resolve within 24 hours.


  • Generalized Seizure: Buzzwords: Tonic-clonic jerking, incontinence, postictal confusion. Treatment: Protect from harm, recovery position after, O2.


  • Status Epilepticus: Seizures > 5 mins or back-to-back. Treatment: Aggressive airway management.


  • Syncope: Fainting. Buzzwords: Resolves quickly when lying flat. Treatment: Supine position, check blood sugar.


🩸 Endocrine & Immunologic Emergencies

  • Hypoglycemia: Blood sugar < 70. Buzzwords: Rapid onset, pale/cool/clammy, altered mental status. Treatment: Oral glucose (if alert with gag reflex).


  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): Sugar > 400 (Type 1). Buzzwords: Gradual onset, Kussmaul respirations, fruity breath, warm/dry skin. Treatment: Fluid support, rapid transport.


  • Anaphylaxis: Systemic allergy. Buzzwords: Hives, wheezing, hypotension (shock). Treatment: Epinephrine Auto-Injector.


  • Sickle Cell Crisis: Buzzwords: Severe joint/bone pain in African American patients. Treatment: High-flow O2, keep warm.


🤢 GI & GU Emergencies

  • Appendicitis: Buzzwords: RLQ pain, rebound tenderness, fever.


  • Cholecystitis: Buzzwords: RUQ pain radiating to right shoulder, worse after fatty foods.


  • Pancreatitis: Buzzwords: Epigastric pain radiating straight to the back.


  • Esophageal Varices: Buzzwords: Painless bright red vomiting (hematemesis), alcoholism history.


  • Upper GI Bleed: Buzzwords: Coffee-ground vomit, melena (black tarry stool).


  • Lower GI Bleed: Buzzwords: Hematochezia (bright red stool).


  • Peritonitis: Buzzwords: Rigid, board-like abdomen.


  • Renal Calculi (Kidney Stones): Buzzwords: Agonizing flank pain radiating to groin, hematuria.


💊 Toxicological Emergencies

  • Opiates (Heroin/Fentanyl): Buzzwords: Pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression. Treatment: BVM, Naloxone (Narcan).


  • Sympathomimetics (Cocaine/Meth): Buzzwords: Dilated pupils, tachycardia, agitation.


  • Cholinergics (Organophosphates): Buzzwords: SLUDGEM (Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, GI upset, Emesis, Miosis).


  • Carbon Monoxide (CO): Buzzwords: Multiple patients, headache/nausea. Treatment: High-flow O2.


  • Alcohol Withdrawal (Delirium Tremens): Buzzwords: Severe tremors, hallucinations, seizures 1-7 days after last drink.


🤰 OB/GYN Emergencies

  • Ectopic Pregnancy: Buzzwords: Sudden unilateral lower pain, missed period.


  • Placenta Previa: Buzzwords: Painless bright red bleeding (3rd trimester).


  • Abruptio Placentae: Buzzwords: Severe pain, dark red bleeding, rigid abdomen.


  • Preeclampsia/Eclampsia: Buzzwords: Hypertension, edema, visual changes (Eclampsia = seizures).


  • Prolapsed Cord: Buzzwords: Cord visible. Treatment: Push baby's head OFF cord, elevate mom's hips.


  • Postpartum Hemorrhage: Buzzwords: Bleeding > 500mL. Treatment: Fundal massage.


🏔 Environmental Emergencies

  • Heat Exhaustion: Buzzwords: Sweating, normal core temp, pale/cool skin.


  • Heat Stroke: Buzzwords: Altered mental status, hot/dry or hot/flushed skin, no sweating. Treatment: Rapid active cooling.


  • Hypothermia: Buzzwords: Shivering (stops in severe cases), bradycardia. Treatment: Passive/active rewarming.


  • Decompression Sickness: Buzzwords: Scuba diving, joint pain ("the bends").


🚨 Trauma Emergencies (The Fatal Trauma Dozen)

  • Tension Pneumothorax: Air trapped in chest crushes heart. Buzzwords: JVD, tracheal deviation, absent lung sounds, severe hypotension.


  • Cardiac Tamponade: Blood in pericardial sac. Buzzwords: Beck's Triad (JVD, muffled heart sounds, narrowing pulse pressure).


  • Flail Chest: 3+ ribs broken in 2+ places. Buzzwords: Paradoxical chest movement (moves in when breathing out). Treatment: Bulky dressing, BVM.


  • Open Pneumothorax (Sucking Chest Wound): Treatment: 3-sided occlusive dressing.


  • Traumatic Brain Injury (High ICP): Buzzwords: Cushing's Triad (Hypertension, bradycardia, irregular respirations/Cheyne-Stokes).


  • Spinal Cord Injury (Neurogenic Shock): Buzzwords: Hypotension with bradycardia, priapism, warm skin below injury.


  • Abdominal Evisceration: Organs protruding. Treatment: Moist sterile dressing covered by an occlusive dressing. Keep knees bent.


  • Hypovolemic/Hemorrhagic Shock: Buzzwords: Tachycardia, hypotension, pale/cool/clammy. Treatment: Tourniquet/Direct pressure, keep warm, rapid transport.


🧠 Behavioral Emergencies

  • Excited Delirium: Extreme agitation, superhuman strength, hyperthermia. Risk: Sudden cardiac arrest. Treatment: Law enforcement, physical restraint (SUPINE only).


  • Depression/Suicide: Highest risk demographic is males > 85 years old. Treatment: Scene safety, direct questioning about intent.