Chapter 11 Flashcards
Level of responsiveness is called what?
Mental status
Impression of the patient’s condition that is formed on first approaching the patient, based on patient’s environment, chief complaint, and appearance
General impression
What are the ABC’s?
Airway, breathing, circulation
In emergency medicine, the reason EMS was called. Usually in the patient’s words
Chief complaint
The 1st element in assessment of a patient: steps taken for the purpose if discovering and dealing with life threatening problems
Primary assessment
A memory aid for classifying a pair toms levels of responsiveness or mental status
AVPU
What does AVPU stand for?
Alert / responsive to verbal cues / responsive to pain / unresponsive
Actions taken to correct a patient’s problem
Interventions
The decision regarding the need for immediate transport of the patient versus further assessment and care at the scene
Priority
Why might an EMT run the patient’s sternum briskly?
To determine level of responsiveness (responsive to pain)
A patient with no external hemorrhage but cool, pale, moist skin likely has:
Poor circulation
When a life threat is identified, the EMT should:
Stop and treat it immediately
Are the steps of a primary assessment patient dependent?
Yes!
When should the ABC rule be changed to the CAB rule?
When the patient is apparently lifeless.
Name the 6 steps of the primary assessment.
1) form general impression
2) assess mental status
3) assess airway
4) assess breathing
5) assess circulation
6) determine pt priority
List 5 high priority conditions.
Poor general impression Unresponsive Responsive but not following commands Difficulty breathing Shock Uncontrolled bleeding
