CH. 15 Medical Overview Flashcards
What do trauma emergencies involve?
injuries from physical forces applied to the body
You arrive at the scene of a pt with severe abdominal pain. This would be considered what kind of general emergency?
a medical emergency
A seizure patient is having what kind of a medical emergency?
neurological
If an injury distracts an EMT from assessing a more serious underlying illness, the EMT has suffered from what?
tunnel vision; do not get locked into a preconceived idea of the pt’s condition
If a “frequent flier” calls 911 because of a suspected head injury, you should NEVER do what?
assume you know what the problem is; every case is different and you don’t want to miss a potentially serious problem
If you medical patient is not in critical condition, how long should you spend on scene?
however long it takes to gather as much information as possible (pt is not in critical condition)
How long should you spend on scene if a patient is in critical condition?
limited to 10 minutes or less ; critical patients always need rapid transport
Your patient is having respiratory difficulty and is not responding to your treatment. What is the best method of transport?
With lights and sirens, to the closest hospital
When assessing a patient with an infectious disease, what is the first action you should perform?
size up the scene and take standard precautions
Your patient believes he has hepatitis and is now exhibiting signs of cirrhosis of the liver. He most likely has:
hepatitis C
Your patient is complaining of fever, headache, stiffness of the neck, and red blotches on his skin. He most likely has:
meningitis; patient may also have an altered mental status
What should you do if you are exposed to a patient who is found to have pulmonary tuberculosis?
get the tuberculin skin test; seek medical advice
What factors increase the risk of developing MRSA?
- antibiotic therapy
- prolonged hospital stays
- a stay in intensive care unit or a burn unit
- exposure to an infected patient
The body’s response to foreign substances is an example of what specific medical emergency?
immunological emergencies
The assessment for a medical patient focuses on what aspects?
- nature of illness (NOI)
- symptoms
- chief complaint
What is an index of suspicion?
your awareness of potentially serious underlying injuries or illness
What types of patients will need rapid transport?
- unconscious or have an altered mental status
- airway or breathing problems
- obvious circulation problems (severe bleeding or signs of shock)
