Chapter 9 Flashcards

Obtaining vital signs and a medical history

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1
Q

Sign

A

something an EMT can see or observe or that has a value that can be recorded
ex: skin color, bruise, blood pressure

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2
Q

Symptom

A

It is experienced and described by the patient (you cannot physically see it)
ex: headache, dizziness, pain

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3
Q

Vital sings include these 5 things

A

respirations, pulse, blood pressure, skin signs, pupils

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4
Q

Baseline vital signs

A

the very 1st set of vital signs obtained on a patient

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5
Q

When can you consider vital signs to be trending?

A

when you have muttiple sets of vital signs (2+)

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6
Q

What is a normal respiratory rate (per minute) for an adult

A

12-20

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7
Q

What is a normal respiratory rate (per minute) for a 1-5 year old

A

20-30

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8
Q

What is a normal respiratory rate (per minute) for a 0-5 month year old

A

25-40

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9
Q

Tidal Volume

A

The amount of air moved in and out with each breath
(it is assessed by observing chest rise and fall)

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10
Q

What are the 7 common pulse points on the body?

A

carotid, brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, dorsalis pedis, posterior

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11
Q

Where is the carotid pulse?

A

anterior neck

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12
Q

Where is the brachial pulse?

A

anterior elbow AND inside of the upper arm

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13
Q

Where is the radial pulse?

A

lateral part of the anterior wrist

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14
Q

Where is the femoral pulse?

A

Deep in the groin
(between the hip and the inside of the upper leg)

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15
Q

Where is the popliteal pulse?

A

posterior aspect of the knee

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16
Q

Where is the Dorsalis Pedis?

A

anterior/dorsal foot

17
Q

Where is the posterior tibial pulse?

A

boney part of the ankle

18
Q

Palpation

A

examining by feeling with the hands

19
Q

What is a normal pulse rate (per minute) for an adult?

A

60-100

20
Q

What is a normal pulse rate (per minute) for a newborn?

A

120-160

21
Q

Bradycardia

A

a pulse rate below 60 bpm

22
Q

Tachycardia

A

a pulse rate greater than 100 bpm

23
Q

Auscultation (hearing)

A

The technique used to listen for pulse sounds when obtaining blood pressure

24
Q

Systolic reading (blood pressure)

A

pressure inside the artery each time the heart’s left ventricle contracts
It is the number on top of the blood pressure reading

25
Q

Diastolic Reading (blood pressure)

A

pressure inside the artery each time the heart rests between beats
it is the number on the bottom of the blood pressure reading

26
Q

What are the 2 ways to take a blood pressure reading?

A

Auscultation or palpation
(auscultation is the preferred method)

27
Q

List the 4 abnormal skin colors discussed in this chapter

A

pale, cyanotic, flushed, and jaundiced

28
Q

diaphoretic skin is…..

A

sweaty, moist, perspiring

29
Q

Capillary refill test (pulling of the skin on the back of the hand)

A

used to assess the perfusion status of a patient

30
Q

Constricted pupils

A

pupils that are smaller than normal

31
Q

dilated pupils

A

pupils that are larger than normal

32
Q

What are orthostatic vitals

A

vitals taking while the patient is sitting and the while they are standing

33
Q

What are the 3 main things you are looking for while performing a general impression

A

age, gender, and level of patients distress

34
Q

Chief complaint

A

the patients primary reason that they need assistance (not what the EMT perceives to be the problem)

35
Q

What do the letters in SAMPLE stand for

A

sings + symptoms,
allergies,
medications,
pertinent past medical history,
last oral intake,
events leading to the injury/illness

36
Q

What do the letters in OPQRST stand for

A

onset,
provocation,
quality,’
region and radiation
severity
time