Abuse and Assault Flashcards
topics
- partner abuse
- elder abuse
- child abuse
- sexual assault
- date rape drugs
statistics
- nearly 3 million children are abused each year
- more than 1,000 die every year
- 2-4 million women are battered each year
- 700,000 to 1.1 million elderly people are abused every year
abuse and assaults transcend…
gender, race, age, and socioeconomic status
partner abuse
-physical or emotional violence from men or women toward their domestic partners
reasons abuse is not reported
- fear of reprisal
- fear of humiliation
- denial
- lack of knowledge
- lack of financial resources
being called to a domestic violence scene
- you may encounter hostility from the person responsible for the abuse
- remain calm when you speak to the person and do not enter his personal space
- remain alert to changes in emotional status
- be prepared to summon law enforcement officials if necessary
categories of partner abuse
- physical
- verbal
- sexual
abuse may exacerbate existing medical conditions
true
characteristics of abused partners
- pregnancy
- substance abuse
- emotional disorders
approaching the battered patient
- use direct questions
- avoid judgements
- listen carefully
- encourage patients to regain control of their lives
- offer knowledge of community resources
- encourage the patient to take all necessary precautions before returning home
identification of elder abuse
- domestic
- institutional
reporting elder abuse
- you are obligated to report suspected elder abuse to the appropriate authorities
- in case of institutional elder abuse, your actions may result in an investigation by an outside agency
perpetrators of domestic elder abuse
- adult children- 32.5%
- grandchildren- 4.2%
- spouse- 14.4%
- sibling- 2.5%
- other relatives- 12.5%
- friend/neighbors- 7.5%
- all others- 18.2%
- unknown- 8.2%
child abuse
- child abuse can occur from infancy to age 18 and can be inflicted by any number of caregivers
- child abuse comes in many forms
- be alert and report any concerns you may have regarding abuse or neglect
- a childs behavior is one of the most important indicators of abuse
bruises
- 0-2 days -> tender and swollen, red
- 2-5 days -> blue, purple
- 5-7- days -> green
- 7-10 days -> yellow
- 10 or more days -> brown
- 2 or more weeks -> cleared
children injuries
- soft tissue injuries are common indicators of abuse, especially multiple bruises in different places on the body, in different stages of healing, and/or with distinctive shapes
- severe multiple bruises can lead to death in children
physical examination for a child
- burns and scalds
- fractures
- head injuries
- shaken baby syndrome
- abdominal injuries
- you can often recognize the source of intentional burns by their shape and/or pattern -> ex. hot plate, knife, light bulb, grid, cigarette, fork, curling iron, iron, immersion
signs of neglect
- malnutrition
- severe diaper rash
- diarrhea or dehydration
- hair loss
- untreated medical conditions
- inappropriate, dirty, or torn clothing
- tired or listless attitudes
- nearly constant demands for physical contact or attention
reporting abuse
-as with all other forms of abuse paramedics have an obligation to report suspected child abuse
sexual assault
unwanted oral, genital, or manual sexual contact
rape
-penile penetration of the genitalia without the consent of the victim
first priority
-in calls involving abuse or assault, your primary responsibility is safety- both your own and that of you patient
handling rape incident
- assist a rape patient with calming and supportive reassurance
- speak softly
- ask simple but direct questions
- encourage the patient to report the rape
date rape drugs (predator drugs)
- render a person unresponsive
- weaken them to a point where they are unable to resist an attacker
- some of the these medications cause amnesia, thus eliminating or distorting the victims recall of the assault
rohypnol
- flunitrazepam
- a benzodiazepine marketed in mexico, south america
- used for insomnia
- 10 times more potent than valium
- effects in 20 minutes
- duration up to 8 hours
- characteristics:
- colorless
- odorless
- tasteless
- can be dissolved in a drink without being detected
- alcohol intensifies effects
effects of rohypnol
- CNS depression
- amnesia
- respiratory depression
- muscle relaxation
street names of rohypnol
- roofies
- mexican valium
- roaches
- ropes
- forget pill
- peanuts
- trip and fall
gamma-hydroxybutyrate
- like GABA
- like alcohol
- effects in 15-30 minutes
- duration 3 hours
- used as an amino acid supplement by body builders
- depressant with anesthetic type qualities
- characteristics:
- liquids
- odorless
- colorless
effects of GHB
- relaxation
- tranquility
- sensuality
- loss of inhibitions
GHB street names
- georgia home boy
- grievous bodily harm
- liquid ecstasy
- soap
- vita G
- easy lay
ketamine
- ketalar
- used as an anesthetic
- 10 times more potent than valium
- hallucinogenic effects last 45-90 minutes
- duration up to 24 hours
- widely used in veterinary practice
- used in human anesthesia
- characteristics:
- potent anesthetic agent with dissociative effects
- colorless, odorless liquid
- white
- off-white powder
effects of ketamine
- hallucinations
- delirium
- amnesia
- dissociation
- respiratory depression
- seizures
- arrhythmias
- cardiac arrest
- hypertension
ketamine street names
- K
- special K
- vitamin K
- jet
- green
- kay
- mauve
- special LA
- super acid
MDMA
- one of the most abused amphetamines by teenagers/college students
- large dose = same effects as amphetamines
- onset within 20-60 minutes
- 2-3 hour duration
- characteristics:
- 10% the stimulant effect of amphetamines
- potent serotonin release
- temperature is a key finding
effects of MDMA
- mood alteration, sleep, anxiety
- poor memory, poor impulse control
- use of other drugs
- tolerance
- MI, dysrhythmias, CVA
- seizures
- serotonin syndrome
- permanent damage to serotonin neurons
- hyperthermia 109
MDMA street names
- ecstasy
- E
- adam
- XTC
- M&M
- eve
- love drug
- M
- beans
- roll
legal issues
- your actions in the case of alleged sexual assault can affect the prosecution of a crime
- protect the evidence
chain of evidence
-legally retaining items of evidence and accounting for their whereabout at all times to prevent loss or tampering
