Question | Answer |
Routes of Medications | Sublingual, Oral, Inhalation, Intramuscular(Injection) |
Aspirin Physiological Actions | Inhibits Platelet Aggregation, Diminished Peripheral Activity of Prostaglandins |
Aspirin Therapeutic Effects | Anticoagulant, Antipyretic, Analgesic |
Aspirin Indications | Suspected AMI |
Aspirin Contraindications | Bleeding Disorders, Active gastric/peptic ulcer, Hypersensitivity |
Aspirin Dosage | 160-325 mg |
Aspirin Route | Oral |
Aspirin Special Notes | Instruct patient to chew pills and provide a small quantity of water if requested. This will increase absorption of the ASA and reduce its effects on the gastric mucosa |
Aspirin Side Effects | Gastric Irritation, Exacerbation of Gastric Ulcers |
Anaphylactic Shock | A Severe form of an allergic reaction with systemic alterations in the patients airway, breathing, and circulatory status. |
Antigen | a Foreign substance that enters the body and triggers an immune response. |
Anti-Bodies | Special Protiens produced by the immune system that search out antigens, combine with, and help to destroy them. |
Medications Carried on Ambulance | Oxygen, Oral Glucose, Activated Charcoal, and Aspirin. |
Sublingual Route | The Medication is placed under the patient's tongue.(the patient does not swallow the medication) It is dissolved and absorbed across the mucous membrane in the mouth.(Ex. Nitro spray and Nitro Tablets) |
Oral Route | The Drug Is swallowed (ex. Activated Charcoal, Oral Glucose, Aspirin) |
Inhalation | The Medication is prepared as a gas or aerosol and is inhaled by the patient. (ex. Oxygen, Meter-dose inhaler, liquid/vaporized fixed-dose nebulizer. |
Injection (intramuscular) | The drug is injected into a muscle mass. (ex. Epinephrine with the use of an auto-injecter) |
Medication Forms | Compressed powder or tablet, liquid for injection, Gel, and Suspension, Fine Powder for inhalation, gas, spray, liquid/vaporized fixed-dose nebulizer. |
Essential Medication Information | Indications, Contraindications, Dose, Administration, Actions, Side Effects. |
Indications | Most common uses of the drug in treating a specific condition. (geared toward the relief of signs, symptoms, or specific conditions) |
Contraindictions | Situations in which the drug should not be administered because of the potential harm that could be caused to the patient. |
Dose | Indicates how much of the drug should be given to the patient. |
Administration | Refers to the route and form in which the drug is given. |
Actions | The effect the drug has on the body. |
Side Effects | The Undesired effects of a Medication(ex. Epinephrine side effects are increased heart rate and anxiety.) |
Allergen | A substance that enters the body by ingestion |
Toxicology | the study of toxins |
Exposure | contact with a poison |
Overdose | Excessive exposure to a poison |
Ingestion | Swallowing of a poison. (the most common route of poisoning) |
S.L.U.D.G.E. | Indications for Child that ingested Poison:___Salvation, Lacrimation(tearing), Urination, Defecation, Gastrointestinal Distress, Emesis. |
Ways Antigens Enter The Body | Skin, Gastrointestinal Tract, or Respiratory Tract. |
Drug and Alcohol Emergency (high Priority) Indicators | 1)Unresponsiveness, 2)Respiratory Difficulties, 3)Fever, 4)High or low pulse rate, or an irregular pulse, 5)Vomiting with altered mental status, 6)Seizures. |
Overdose | is an emergency that involves poisoning by drugs or alcohol |
Adverse Reaction | any unexpected or dangerous reaction to a drug |
CNS Stimulants | excite the central nervous system |
CNS Depressants | depress the central nervous system |
Narcotics | are CNS depressants that are derived from opium(opiates) or synthetic opium(opioids) |
Hallucinogens | cause hallucinations |
Volatile Inhalants | substances that are inhaled |
Signs and Symptoms of Delirium Tremens(DT's) | Sever Confusion, Loss of Memory, Tremors, Restlessness and irritability, Extremely high fever, Dilated Pupils, Profuse sweating, insomnia, elevated blood pressure, tachycardia, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations, mostly of frightening nature(ex |
Stages of Alcohol Withdrawl Syndrome | Stage 1: alcoholic tremulousness, Stage 2: alcoholic hallucinosis, Stage 3: Withdrawal seizures, Stage 4: Delirium Tremens. |
Convection | Body heat is lost to surrounding air, which becomes warmer, rises, and is replaced with cooler air. |
Radiation | Body heat is lost to nearby objects without physically touching them |
Evaporation | Body heat causes perspiration which is lost from the body surface when changed from liquid to vapor |
Conduction | Body heat is lost to nearby objects through direct physical touch |
Hyperthermia | High body temperature |
Hypothermia | Low body temperature |
Anxiety | state of painful uneasiness about impending problems |
Phobias | Irrational fears of specific things, places, or situations. |
Depression | Condition characterized by deep feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and discouragement, feelings that often do not seem connected to the actual circumstances of the patients life. |
Bipolar Disorder | (AKA: Manic-depressive disorder)causes a patient to swing to opposite sides of the mood spectrum |
Paranoia | highly exaggerated or unwarranted mistrust or suspiciousness. |
Schizophrenia | suffers debilitating distortions of speech and thought, bizarre delusions, hallucinations, social withdrawal, and lack of emotional expressiveness. |
Suicide | any willful act desighned to end ones own life. |
Activated Charcoal Doses | 1 gram per kilogram of body weight. |
Activated Charcoal Contraindictions | 1)Altered mental status (not fully conscious), 2)Swallowed acids or alkalis, 3)Unable to swallow. |
The Highway Safety Act of 1966 | required each state to establish a highway safety program that met prescribed federal standards and included emergency services |
The Emergency Medical Services System Act of 1973 | provided access to millions of dollars of funding geared to EMS system planning and implementation, personnel availability, and training |
Two General Systems by which the public can access emergency medical services: | 9-1-1 and non-9-1-1 |
Special Facilities to which some patients may need to be transported include: | trauma center, burn center, obstetrical center, pediatric center, poison center, stroke center, cardiac center, hyperbaric center, spine injury center, psychiatric center |
Roles and Responsibilities of the EMT | own safety, safety of crew, the patient, and bystanders at the scene, patient assessment, emergency care, safe lifting and moving, proving oral and written reports, safe transport of the patient, transfer of patient care, record keeping and data collectio |
Medical Director | a physician who is legally responsible for the clinical and patient care aspects of the EMS system. |
Protocols | Comprise a full set of guidelines that define the entire scope of medical care |
Offline Medical direction | direction provided through a set of predetermined, written guidelines that allow the EMT to use his or her judgement to administer emergency care |
On-line medical direction | the EMT acquires permission from a physician via cell phones, telephone, or radio communication prior to administering specific emergency care |
Standing orders | a subset of protocols that do not require real-time physician input |
Quality Improvement (QI) | a system of internal and external review and audits of all aspects of an emergency medical system |
EMT role in quality improvement: | Document carefully, Perform reviews and audits, Obtain feedback, Maintain equipment, Participate in continuing education, Maintain skills |
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) | a federal law passed in 1990 that protects individuals with a documented disability from being denied initial or continued employment based on their disability |
Medical Direction | medical policies, procedures, and practices that are available to EMS providers either off-line or on-line |
Death and Dying Five Emotional Stages | Denial ('not me"), Anger ("why me?'), Bargaining ("okay, but first let me..."), Depression (okay, but i havent...."), Acceptance (okay, i am not afraid..) |
Common Signs and Symptoms of Stress Reactions | 1) Irritability with coworkers, family, and friends (2)Inability to concentrate (3) Difficulty sleeping and nightmares (4) Anxiety (5) Indecisiveness (6) Guilt (7) Loss of appetite (8) Loss of sexual desire or interest (9) Isolation (10) loss of interest |
Most Important way you can prevent the spread of infection | Washing your hands |
Diseases of Concern | Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), West Nile Virus, Multidrug- Resistant Organisms |
Burnout | a condition resulting from chronic job stress, characterized by a state of irritability and fatigue that can markedly decrease effectiveness |
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) | a session usually held within 24 to 72 hours of a critical incident, where a team of peer counselors and mental health professionals help emergency service personnel work through the emotions that normally follow a critical incident |
Pathogens | Microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses that cause disease |
Abandonment | the act of discontinuing emergency care with out ensuring that another health care professional with equivalent or better training will take over |
Advance Directive | instructions, written in advance, such as a living will or a do not resuscitate order (DNR) |
Assault | a willful threat to inflict harm on a person |
Battery | the act of touching a person unlawfully without his consent |
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) | a federal regulation that ensures the publics access to emergency health care regardless of ability to pay |
Defamation | an intentional false communication that injures another persons reputation or good name |
Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR) | a legal document, usually signed by the patient and his physician, that indicates to medical personnel which, if any, life-sustaining measures should be taken when the patients heart and respiratory functions have ceased |
Duty to Act | the obligation to care for a patient who requires it |
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act | a federal regulation that ensures the publics access to emergency health care regardless of ability to pay |
Expressed Consent | permission that must be obtained from every conscious, mentally competent adult before emergency treatment may be provided |
False Imprisonment | the intentional and unjustifiable detention of a person without his consent or other legal authority |
Good Samaritan Law | a law that provides immunity from liability for acts performed in good faith to assist at the scene of a medical emergency unless those acts constitute gross negligence |
Implied Consent | the assumption that, in a true emergency where a patient who is unresponsive or unable to make a rational decision is a significant risk of death, disability, or deterioration of condition, that the patient would agree to emergency treatment |
Informed Consent | consent for treatment that is given by a competent patient based on full disclosure of possible risks and consequences |
Intentional Tort | a wrongful act, injury, or damage that is comitted knowingly |
Libel | the act of injuring a persons reputation or good name in writing or through the mass media with malicious intent or reckless disregard for the falsity of those statements |
Minor Consent | permission obtained from a parent or legal guardian for emergency treatment of a minor or a mentally incompetent adult |
Negligence | the act of deviating from an accepted standard of care through carelessness, inattention, disregard, inadvertence, or oversight, which results in further injury to the patient |
Simple Negligence | is a failure to perform care or commission of an error in care |
Gross Negligence | is willful, wanton, or extreme recklessness and that can be construed as being dangerous the the patient |
Proximate Cause | the act of deviating from an accepted standard of care through carelessness, inattention, disregard, inadvertence, or oversight, which results in further injury to the patient |
Scope of Practice | the actions and care that are legally allowed to be provided by an EMT |
Slander | the act of injuring a persons reputation or good name through spoken statements with malicioud intent or reckless disregard for the falsity of those statements |
Standard of care | emergency care that would be expected to be given to a patient by any trained EMT under similar circumstances |
Tort | a wrongful act, injury, or damage |
Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) | Liver, Right Kidney, Colon, Pancreas, Gallbladder |
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) | Colon, Small intestines, Major artery and vein to the right leg, Ureter, Appendix |
Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ) | Liver, Spleen, Left Kidney, Stomach, Colon, Pancreas |
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) | Colon, Small intestines, Major artery and vein to the left leg, Ureter |
Flexion | bending toward the body or decreasing the angle between the bones or parts of the body |
Extension | straightening away from the body or increasing the angle between the bones or parts of the body |
Abduction | movement AWAY from the midline |
Adduction | movement TOWARD the midline |
Pronation | turning the forearm so the palm of the hand is turned toward the back |
Supination | turning the forarm so the palm of the hand is turned toward the front |