10 - Medical emergency revision Flashcards
1
Q
What is ABCDE?
A
- airway
- breathing
- circulation
- disability
- expose
2
Q
How do you quickly assess airway?
A
- if patient can talk their airway is clear
- if patient is snoring it may be partially obstructed
- feel for breath
3
Q
How can you improve airway?
A
- head tilt, chin lift, jaw thrust
- intubate if necessary
4
Q
How do you quickly assess breathing?
A
- look, listen, feel
- equal chest expansion indicates that mechanically everything is okay
- listen for any wheeze
5
Q
How can you improve breathing?
A
High flow oxygen with with non-rebreathe mask
6
Q
What are normal oxygen saturation levels?
A
98/99%
7
Q
What are expected oxygen saturation levels with high flow oxygen?
A
100%
8
Q
How can you quickly assess circulation?
A
- pinch nail bed for 5s
- feel for pulse at wrist
9
Q
What is normal capillary refill time?
A
2s
10
Q
What does pinching the nail bed indicate?
A
- capillary refill time
- indication of dehydration
11
Q
What can you understand about blood pressure from the patient’s pulse?
A
- if you can feel the pulse normally at the wrist, BP is okay
- if you can feel weak at the wrist, BP is 100 systolic
- pulse disappears from the wrist at 70 systolic
- pulse disappears from the radial at 60 systolic
12
Q
How can you improve circulation?
A
No improvement in blood pressure, raise legs
13
Q
How do you quickly assess disability?
A
- pupillary response to light
- response to stimulus (ACVPU)
14
Q
What is ACVPU?
A
- alert
- confusion
- vocal stimulus
- pain stimulus
- unresponsive
15
Q
How do you quickly assess exposure?
A
- do not fully expose patient in dental setting
- look for obvious ie. colour, bleeding
