Chapter 17: Dealing with Acute Situations Flashcards
Usually caused by blockage of airway by foreign object (choking)
Airway obstruction
What do you do when someone has an airway obstruction (choking)
adult- perform abdominal thrust
infant and small child- alternate back blows with chest thrusts
-Characterized by coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath
-call for assistance
Reactive airway disease
A substance such as blood clot, fat, or air that travels through the vascular system and lodges in one of the pulmonary vessels
Pulmonary embolism (PE)
Denotes a group of symptoms that indicate myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack
Acute Coronary Syndrome
-Episodes of chest pain precipitated by exertion or stress
-usually relieved by rest or the sublingual administration of nitroglycerin
Angina Pectoris
-Shake and shout to ensure it is not a syncope
-If no response, check carotid pulse and respirations
-if not present, call code and begin CPR until code team arrives
Cardiac Arrest
Delivers an electric shock to correct an ineffective cardiac rhythm
Defibrillator
how far away should personnel be from the defibrillator when administered
2 feet
Easier to use than standard defibrillator
Automatic external defibrillator (AED)
Steps to use AED:
-turn on power
-attach adhesive pads to victim’s chest
-attach pads to machine cables
-clear the area
-turn on rhythm analysis. AED requires 5 to 15 seconds to analyze rhythm. There must be no movement of the patient during this time. Activating analysis will also charge the AED if the rhythm is ventricular fibrillation
-press the shock control to deliver the shock, if indicated.
four levels of consciousness (LOC) used for assessment
Head injuries
The four levels of consciousness
-alert and conscious
-drowsy, but responsive
-unconscious, but reactive to painful stimuli
-comatose
What is the highest possible sore for the glasgow coma scale
15
What is also used for assessment for a head injury other than the 4 LOC’s
Glasgow coma scale
spontaneously - 4
To speech - 3
To pain - 2
None - 1
Eyes open response
Oriented-5
confused-4
inappropriate words- 3
in-comprehensive sounds-2
none-1
verbal response
obeys commands -6
Localized pain-5
flexion withdrawal- 4
abnormal flexion-3
abnormal extension-2
flaccid-1
Motor Response
True or false
Trauma patients are assumed to have a spinal injury until this is ruled out.
True
Obtained with immobilization in place
Must be evaluated by ED physician before patient is moved
Log-rolling is used to move patients, when necessary.
Cross-table lateral c-spine is first radiographic image obtained.
Blood in the pleural space
Hemothorax
air in the pleural space
Pneumothorax
What is treatment for pneumothorax and hemothorax
thoracotomy
Multiple rib fractures
Flail chest