Chapter 9 Flashcards
Obtaining vital signs and a medical history
Sign
something an EMT can see or observe or that has a value that can be recorded
ex: skin color, bruise, blood pressure
Symptom
It is experienced and described by the patient (you cannot physically see it)
ex: headache, dizziness, pain
Vital sings include these 5 things
respirations, pulse, blood pressure, skin signs, pupils
Baseline vital signs
the very 1st set of vital signs obtained on a patient
When can you consider vital signs to be trending?
when you have muttiple sets of vital signs (2+)
What is a normal respiratory rate (per minute) for an adult
12-20
What is a normal respiratory rate (per minute) for a 1-5 year old
20-30
What is a normal respiratory rate (per minute) for a 0-5 month year old
25-40
Tidal Volume
The amount of air moved in and out with each breath
(it is assessed by observing chest rise and fall)
What are the 7 common pulse points on the body?
carotid, brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, dorsalis pedis, posterior
Where is the carotid pulse?
anterior neck
Where is the brachial pulse?
anterior elbow AND inside of the upper arm
Where is the radial pulse?
lateral part of the anterior wrist
Where is the femoral pulse?
Deep in the groin
(between the hip and the inside of the upper leg)
Where is the popliteal pulse?
posterior aspect of the knee
Where is the Dorsalis Pedis?
anterior/dorsal foot
Where is the posterior tibial pulse?
boney part of the ankle
Palpation
examining by feeling with the hands
What is a normal pulse rate (per minute) for an adult?
60-100
What is a normal pulse rate (per minute) for a newborn?
120-160
Bradycardia
a pulse rate below 60 bpm
Tachycardia
a pulse rate greater than 100 bpm
Auscultation (hearing)
The technique used to listen for pulse sounds when obtaining blood pressure
Systolic reading (blood pressure)
pressure inside the artery each time the heart’s left ventricle contracts
It is the number on top of the blood pressure reading
Diastolic Reading (blood pressure)
pressure inside the artery each time the heart rests between beats
it is the number on the bottom of the blood pressure reading
What are the 2 ways to take a blood pressure reading?
Auscultation or palpation
(auscultation is the preferred method)
List the 4 abnormal skin colors discussed in this chapter
pale, cyanotic, flushed, and jaundiced
diaphoretic skin is…..
sweaty, moist, perspiring
Capillary refill test (pulling of the skin on the back of the hand)
used to assess the perfusion status of a patient
Constricted pupils
pupils that are smaller than normal
dilated pupils
pupils that are larger than normal
What are orthostatic vitals
vitals taking while the patient is sitting and the while they are standing
What are the 3 main things you are looking for while performing a general impression
age, gender, and level of patients distress
Chief complaint
the patients primary reason that they need assistance (not what the EMT perceives to be the problem)
What do the letters in SAMPLE stand for
sings + symptoms,
allergies,
medications,
pertinent past medical history,
last oral intake,
events leading to the injury/illness
What do the letters in OPQRST stand for
onset,
provocation,
quality,’
region and radiation
severity
time
