Chapters 13-15 Flashcards
-a mechanism of brain injury in which the head comes to a sudden stop but the brain continues to move back and forth inside the skull, causing injury at the site of impact and to the opposite side of the brain
Coup-Contrecoup
signs and symptoms of brain injury
- weird behavior
- nausea
- unequal pupils
- headache
- double vision
- loss of memory
- weakness
- seizure
- heart rate became slow
4 types of skull fractures
1) depressed
2) linear
3) comminuted
4) basilar
-break in base of skull
basilar
-point of impact; multiple cracks radiating from the center (cracked egg shell)
Comminuted
-most common; thin line crack in the skull. Least serious and most difficult to detect
Linear
-object strikes the skull, leaving an obvious deformity; bone fragments are often driven into the protective tissue surrounding the brain
Depressed
signs and symptoms of skull fracture
- contusions
- deformity of the skull
- clear fluid coming from ears nose or mouth
- raccoon eyes
- battle’s sign
-bruising around the eyes in the absence of trauma to the eyes; a very late sign of skull fracture
raccoon eyes
-bruising behind the ears; over the mastoid process; very late sign of skull fracture
battle’s sign
mechanisms can cause spinal injury
- compression
- flexion, extension, rotation
- lateral bending
- distraction
-the sudden pulling apart of the spine that stretches and tears the cord
distraction
2 major complications of spinal injury
inadequate breathing effort
paralysis
T/F For a head-injured victim, use the head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver to open the airway
False
T/F Forceful vomiting may be a sign of head injury
True
T/F A basilar skull fracture is the most common and least serious
False
T/F Face and scalp wounds may bleed heavily, but the bleeding is usually easy to control
True
T/F It is not possible for a spine-injured victim to walk around
False
T/F Spinal injury precautions should be taken in all cases of head trauma
True
T/F the airway is the first priority for a spine-injured victim
true
T/F always pad behind the neck of a victim on a rigid support
False
T/F any trauma severe enough to cause injury to the brain can also cause injury to the spine
True
T/F with proper precautions, one first aider can safely remove a victim’s helmet
false
if a victim has blood or cerebrospinal fluid draining from the ears but shows no indication of spinal injury, the first step in first aid care is to
establish and maintain an open airway
which of the following methods of maintaining an open airway should be used on an unresponsive victim with a head injury
modified jaw thrust
with a comminuted skull fracture
-multiple cracks radiate from the center of impact
what is the most common characteristic of Battle’s signs
a bruise like mark behind either ear
which of the following occurs in coup-contrecoup injury to the brain?
all of the above
which of the following is NOT a sign of spinal injury?
position of the legs
Check for spinal cord damage in a responsive victim by
asking the victim to wiggle fingers and toes
how many poisonings happen per year in the USA?
1 and 2 million
what percent of poisonings are at the home?
90%
Poisoning is the ____ common cause of death in the US and leading in children
3rd
4 ways to get poisoned
1) ingesting
2) inhaling
3) penetration/injection
4) absorption
most common things that can poison you when swallowed
- aspirin
- acetaminophen
- alcohol
- detergents or soap
- household cleaning products
- petroleum distillates
poisonous plants
- holly
- mistletoe
- english ivy
- poinsetta
poisonous fruits
- cherry pits
- peaches
- apricots
- apple seeds
symptoms of poison
- nausea
- salivation
- varying levels of consciousness
- abdominal pain
- bloating
- burns or stains around the moth
- unusual breath or body odors
what side to you place the victim on and why?
left side to the gravity will delay the poison from entering the small intestine
- most fatal type of food poisoning
- nerve toxin caused by bacterium
- improperly processed canned foods
Botulism
- caused by contaminated foods such as beef, poultry, milk, eggs
- cooking kills it
Salmonella
- when people handling food touch their pimples, boils, rashes, infected eyes, etc.
- most commonly affected foods are sandwiches, salads and pasteries
Staph food poisoning
-a special steam-distilled charcoal that can absorb many times its weight in contaminants because of its porous surface
activated charcoal
What does activated charcoal do?
- acts like a sponge
- does not bind to alcohol, acids, alkalies, potassium, gasoline or metals
Don’t give activated charcoal to someone who
- is not fully conscious
- has swallowed acids
- is unable to swallow
what is the most toxic way of poisoning
inhalation
-act of breathing in (inspiration) or the drawing of air or other gases into the lungs
inhalation
-occurs usually because of a fire
-an odorless, tasteless, colorless toxic gas that results from incomplete combustion
carbon monoxide
consider carbon monoxide poisoning if you encounter
-unexplained flu symptoms
-taking a substance into the body through the skin
absorption
-the toxic element of poison ivy, which can be carried on animal fur, tools, clothing and when the plant is burned, in the air
urushiol
absorption can cuause
burns, lesions and inflammation
T/F ingestion of poisonous plants is a common poisoning emergency in children
T
T/F a victim of inhaled poison should be given activated charcoal
F
T/F Cherry red lips are a common early sign of carbon monoxide poisoning
F
T/F a throbbing headache is a symptom of low-level carbon monoxide poisoning
T
T/F activated charcoal should be used only if the victim vomits
F
T/F a victim of poisoning should be kept in a sitting position
T
T/F initial symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, weakness, agitation, confusion, and dizziness
T
T/F Activated charcoal will not bind to alcohol, kerosene, or gasoline
T
T/F activated charcoal should be used in cases of ingested poisoning because of its ability to neutralize poisons
F
which of the following is a characteristic symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning?
-headache
what is the initial first aid care procedure for inhalation poisonings?
remove the victim to fresh air
after a poisoning victim vomits, give the victim
activated charcoal
alcoholism is
treatable but not curable
what does alcohol affect?
liver and central nervous system
alcohol is absorbed from the
stomach
-intent of becoming intoxicated
binge drinking
-occurs after a cutback in the amount of alcohol a person is used to
withdrawal syndrome
determine the severity of intoxication by observing
- victim is awake and answering questions
- victim withdraws from painful stimuli
3 levels of consciousness
- awake; answers questions and is alert
- responds verbally or to pain
- unresponsive
how to deal with the drunk people
- assure personal safety
- provide a reality base
- nonverbal support
- encourage communication
- foster confidence
Hallucinogens
- LSD
- PCP
-phencyclidine, a hallucinogenic drug that causes severe reactions
PCP
stimulants
- cocaine
- meth
- ritalin
depressants
- heroin
- oxycontin
- xanax
other drugs
- roofies
- ecstasy
T/F first aid care for a drug overdose depends entirely on what kind of drug was used
f
T/F seizures are rare in alcoholic withdrawal
F
T/F the most severe reactions from PCP use include paranoia and memory loss
F
T/F hyperventilating drug emergency victims should be encouraged to breathe into a paper bag
F
T/F DTs that occur more than one day after the last drink are rarely life threatening
false
a common emergency among drug abuse victims is
hyperventilation
hyperventilation in a drug emergency should be treated by
removing the victim from the crisis situation
a pulse rate _____ in an adult may indicate danger in a drug or alcohol emergency
below 60 or above 100
which of the following may indicate that a drug or alcohol emergency is life threatening
vomiting while not fully conscious
which of the following is not a guideline for dealing with an overdose victim
throw a little cold water on a semiconscious victim
what is the preferred method for handling a victim experiencing a bad trip?
use the talk-down technique
the signs of acute intoxication may be mimicked by a victim of
diabetic coma (hyperglycemia)
which of the following indicates that medical attention is needed immediately for an alcohol abuse victim
grand mal seizure
delirium tremens occur as a result of
alcohol withdrawal
which of the following is not a symptom of delirium tremens
deep, comatose sleep
