First aid Flashcards

1
Q

Define first aid

A

Provision of initial care for illness or injury to preserve wellbeing and promote recovery

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2
Q

Who can perform first aid?

A

Any as long as it is to preserve life, prevent suffering and prevent deterioration until vet can diagnose and treat

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3
Q

What does schedule 3 state about providing first aid?

A

Vet nurses must be competent at first aid and vets are allowed to direct nurses to carry out limited surgery

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4
Q

How to answer telephone calls for emergency situations

A
Introduce self and be polite and calm
Ascertain whether life-threatening or not
Get mobile number 
Check if new or existing client
Quote price for emergency consult
Clear directions to get to practice and give practice phone number
Get ETA
Ask to bring in ASAP
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5
Q

How to determine urgency of patients over the phone?

A
Known toxins?
Onset time of signs?
Current conditions or medications?
Breathing?
Normal walking?
Consciousness?
Trauma?
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6
Q

What are examples of life threatening emergencies?

A
Respiratory distress
Severe bleeding
Collapse/unconscious
Rapid abdominal distension
Inability to urinate
Neurological abnormalities
Vomiting and diarrhoea
Extreme pain
Toxin ingestion
Bone fracture
Dystocia
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7
Q

How to advise owners when animal is haemorrhaging?

A

Keep calm to reduce heart rate
Apply pressure with clean cloth
Tourniquet distal limbs when less than 20 minutes to practice

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8
Q

How to advise owners when animal has foreign object?

A

Don’t remove
Keep calm and still
Get to vets ASAP

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9
Q

What should you do when you establish condition is non life threatening?

A

Take standard history

Ask further questions

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10
Q

What are examples of non-life threatening conditions?

A
Mild vomiting and diarrhoea
Small wounds
Minimal blood loss
Polyuria
Polydipsia
Weight bearing lameness
Short single seizure
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11
Q

How to advise owner with broken bones?

A

Keep patient confined
Support patient
Prevent further movement

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12
Q

How to transport emergency patients?

A

Be aware they may be unpredictable
Best kept in crate
For large dogs carry on board/blanket

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13
Q

What should be the priority when giving first aid out of practice?

A

Own safety especially with wildlife

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14
Q

What is the purpose of an emergency crash trolley?

A

Immediate access to life saving drugs and equpitment

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15
Q

What emergency equipment is used in practice?

A
ET tubes
Laryngoscope
Oxygen
Anaesthesia 
IV catheters 
Clippers
Scissors
Tape and bandages
ECG
Syringes and needles
Suction
Urinary catheters
Drug dosage charts
Fluids
Scalpels
Suture materials
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16
Q

What drugs should be present on crash trolley?

A
Cardiac resuscitation
Anticonvulsants
Steroids
Analgesics
Anaesthetics
Fluids
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17
Q

Define triage

A

Organising according to condition severity to provide appropriate treatment

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18
Q

List the stages of triage

A
Phone call
Primary survey
Assessment of 3 major body systems
Urinary
Pain
Capsule history
Secondary survey
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19
Q

How to prepare for triaging an incoming patient?

A

Prepare consent forms and critical care monitoring sheet
Prepopulate with patient information
Highlight areas for owner to complete
Note down history and each examination result

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20
Q

What needs to be observed as the initial primary survey?

A

Airways
Breathing
Circulation

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21
Q

What are the 3 major body systems?

A

Cardiovascular
Respiration
Neurological

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22
Q

What cardiovascular parameters need to be assessed?

A

Heart rate
Pulse quality
Mucous membrane colour
CRT

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23
Q

What respiratory parameters need to be assessed?

A

Respiratory rate
Respiratory effort
Changes with inspiration and expiration

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24
Q

What neurological factors need to be assessed?

A
Gait
Mentation/consciousness
Temperature
Sensation in all of body
Seizures
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25
Q

What urinary system parameters need to be assessed?

A

Any obstructions

Size of bladder

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26
Q

When is capsule history not taken in triage?

A

When patient is unstable and needs to go straight to vet, gets taken later

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27
Q

What is recorded in capsule history?

A
Age
Sex and neuter status
Breed
Last seen normal
Last eaten, drank
Last urinated
Vomiting or diarrhoea
Coughing
Toxins or trauma
Static or progressive condition
Other conditions
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28
Q

What is the purpose of the secondary survey?

A

Identify problems that could rapidly become life threatening

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29
Q

What should be assessed in secondary survey?

A
Nose
Mouth
Eyes
Ears
Thorax
Abdomen
Limbs and tail
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30
Q

What are general nursing requirements alongside providing first aid?

A
Keep calm and quiet
Keep comfortable
Allow toileting 
Managing dressings and catheters
Monitoring parameters
Feeding
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31
Q

What parameters need to be monitored in patients undergoing first aid and how often?

A
Pulse
MM
Respiration
Temperature
Demeanour
Every 15 minutes
Body weight every 12 hours
Also consider urine output, BP, ECG, CVP, blood gases where appropriate
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32
Q

Define CPR

A

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Basic life support to keep blood and oxygen circulating

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33
Q

What are signs of impending cardiac arrest?

A
Gasping, laboured breathing
Lack of or weak heart beat
Rapid pulses
Unconsciousness
Fixed dilated pupils and lack of reflex
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34
Q

List the stages of CPR

A
Record time
Call for help
Assign roles
Start compressions
Secure airway and give oxygen
Monitor
Place IV catheter
Connect ECG
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35
Q

What are the roles in a CPR team?

A
Cardiac compressor, swapped every minute
Ventilation provider
Recorder
Medicating and placing catheters
Monitoring for pulse and repsiration
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36
Q

How should you perform compressions?

A

1/2-2/3 width of thorax
100-120 per minute
Place ideally in lateral recumbency
Cats and small dogs- compress over heart using whole hand around chest
Large dogs- compress widest part of thorax

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37
Q

How to ventilate in a patient

A

Secure airway with ET tube
Inflate lungs to normal rise and fall
20 breaths per minute
Can use capnograph to measure CO2

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38
Q

What equipment is needed for CPR?

A
Ambubag
Anaesthetic machines and circuits
ET tubes, face masks and laryngoscope
IV catheters
Recording sheet and pen
ECG and capnograph
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39
Q

What are the different stages of collapse?

A

Alert- normal mentation but cant walk or move
Depressed- quiet but responds to noise
Obtunded- respond to pain
Unconscious- non-responsive, has heart beat and respiration

40
Q

What are causes of the different stages of collapse?

A

Alert- fractures and spinal problems
Depressed- shock
Obtunded- severe shock, metabolic disease, neurological disease
Unconscious- severe shock, neurological disease

41
Q

Nursing considerations for unconscious patients

A

Positioned to keep airway open and clear
Lateral recumbency with head slightly tilted upwards, mouth open and tongue pulled out behind canine
Check no airway blockages

42
Q

What equipment is needed for unconscious patients?

A
ET tube, laryngoscope
Conforming bandage
Oxygen supply
Mouth gag/vet wrap
ECG, BP monitor, capnograph
43
Q

What are common ocular emergencies?

A
Proptosis- forward globe displacement
Foreign body
Corneal scratch or ulcer
Glaucoma- increased pressure in globe
Hypaemia- bleeding into anterior eye chamber
Sudden onset blindness
44
Q

What are nursing considerations for ocular emergencies?

A

Collar to prevent self trauma
Analgesia
Keep eye moist
Keep quiet in dimly lit kennel

45
Q

What are examples of nasal emergencies?

A

Epistasis- bleeding from nostrils

Foreign body

46
Q

What are nursing considerations for epistasis?

A
Keep calm
Elevate nose
Cold compress
Plug with absorbent dressing 
Monitor for hypovolaemia
47
Q

What are nursing considerations for nasal foreign bodies?

A

Examine nose

Flush under anaesthesia making sure patient is in sternal recumbency with rostral end tilted down

48
Q

What equipment is needed for nasal emergencies?

A
Surgical swabs
Dressings
Anaesthesia
Otoscope
Laryngoscope
Syringe
Saline
49
Q

Define shock

A

Acute state of circulatory collapse so circulation cant provide enough oxygen to tissues

50
Q

What are the types of shock?

A

Hypovolaemic
Obstructive
Distributive
Cardiogenic

51
Q

What is hypovolaemic shock?

A

Loss of blood volume so reduced volume circulating

52
Q

What is cardiogenic shock?

A

Heart not pumping properly

53
Q

What is distributive shock and what are examples?

A

Septic, toxic, anaphylactic or neurogenic shock

Loss of peripheral resistance so blood pools in small vessels and less is circulating

54
Q

What is obstructive shock?

A

Obstruction prevents heart beating properly or prevents proper blood flow

55
Q

What are some causes of obstructive shock?

A

Pericardial effusion- sac around heart fills with fluid preventing pumping
Pulmonary thromboembolism- clot in lung prevents movement of blood
Gastric dilation and twisting- blocks blood returning to the heart

56
Q

What are signs of shock?

A
Lethargy
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Bleeding
Swollen abdomen
Abnormal heartbeat
Weak or bounding pulse
Red, pale or blue MM
Slow CRT
57
Q

How to nurse for shock

A

Close monitoring
Oxygen provision
Slow warming
Calm environment
Hypovolaemic- IV fluids and stop haemorrhage
Distributive- find underlying cause, IV fluids

58
Q

What needs monitoring in shock patients?

A

Blood pressure
Heart beat
Urine output indicates blood volume
Blood lactate and oxygen level

59
Q

What are examples of cardiovascular emergencies and why are they dangerous?

A
Acute congestive heart failure
Pericardial effusion
Aortic thromboembolism
Arrhythmias
Stop heart beating effectively
60
Q

What is equipment needed for CV emergencies?

A
Oxygen
IV catheter
ECG
Analgesia
Butterfly catheter
Ultrasound
Pericardial or pleural tap preperation
3 way tap
61
Q

List common aural emergencies

A

Aural haematoma
Foreign body
Infection

62
Q

What equipment should be used for aural emergencies?

A

Head collar

Otoscope

63
Q

What are common environmental emergencies?

A
Hyperthermia
Hypothermia
Electrocution
Smoke inhalation
Burns
64
Q

What are causes of hyperthermia?

A

Excess exercise
Hot day
Seizure
Prone to Brachycephalics

65
Q

How to nurse hyperthermia

A

Cool to 39.5 as continues to cool after that point

Dont wet as insulates

66
Q

What are causes of hypothermia?

A
Shock
Disease
Cold weather
Anaesthesia
Cats and young prone
67
Q

How to nurse hypothermia?

A

Fluids warmed to body temperature
Bear hugger under anaesthesia
Bubble wrap

68
Q

What are symptoms of electrocution?

A

Pulmonary oedema

Burns

69
Q

What are symptoms of smoke inhalation?

A

Pulmonary oedema

Low oxygen exchange

70
Q

What are different causes of burns?

A
Chemical
Heat
Sun
Cold
Electrocution
71
Q

How to nurse burns?

A
Look at body % covered
Treat shock
Run under cold water for 15 minutes
Analgesia
Keep clean
72
Q

What are signs of trauma?

A

Haemorrhage, internal or external
Wounds
Fractures

73
Q

What are the main types of wounds?

A

Incisions- sharp cut
Contusion- bruise
Abrasions- not full thickness
Laceration- cut by dirty object

74
Q

What is the first aid for trauma?

A
Stop external bleeding
Cover wounds while stabilising
Analgesia
Clip, clean, flush, suture and dress wounds
Limit movement of fractures
75
Q

List common metabolic emergencies and signs

A

Hypoglaecemia- weakness, collapse, coma, seizures
Hyperkalaemia- high K+, bradycardia, asystole
Hypocalcaemia- panting, tremoring
Hypoadrenocorticism- uncontrolled BP, collapse, vomiting, bradycardia
Diabetic ketoacidosis- weight loss, collapse, high urination

76
Q

What questions help determine metabolic emergencies?

A
Lactating?
Urination?
Diabetes?
Polydipsic prior to collapse?
Vomiting or diarrhoea?
Pale MM?
Long CRT?
77
Q

What are common urological emergenices?

A

Urethral obstruction- inability to urinate so waste builds up
Uroabdomen- waste build up as urine leaks into abdomen
Acute renal failure- infection, medication, blood clots

78
Q

What is the first aid for urological emergencies?

A

History of drinking and urination or any trauma
Aware of pain
IV catheter to dilute waste
Analgesia
Monitor urine output, catheters and imaging

79
Q

What equipment is needed for urological emergencies?

A

IV fluids
Urinary catheter
Suturing material

80
Q

What questions should be asked for toxological emergencies?

A
What
How much
How long ago
Body weight
Symptoms
Make sure owner safe
Bring packet
81
Q

Describe first aid for toxological emergencies

A

Identify toxin and amount
Prevent further absorbiton
Treat developing signs
Give antidote or treatment

82
Q

What are some treatments for toxological emergencies?

A

Induced emesis
Dermal decontamination
Ocular decontamination

83
Q

When should and shouldnt you induce emesis for toxological emergencies?

A

Should- 1-3 hours after ingestion

Shouldnt- acidic substance, cardiac or laryngeal disease, seizing, cant vomit, depressed

84
Q

Why shouldnt you use hot water for dermal decontamination?

A

Increases absorbtion

85
Q

What are examples of gastrointestinal emergencies?

A

Obstruction
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Gastric dilation volvulus

86
Q

What triage information is needed for GI emergencies?

A
Ingestion history
Unproductive retching
Restless
Salivating
Hard bloated abdomen
Vomiting, diarrhoea
87
Q

What is first aid for GI emergencies?

A
PPE in case infectious
ABCs
Catheterise
Prepare stomach tube
Check for hypothermia and hypoglaecemia
88
Q

List reproductive emergencies

A
Dystocia
Neonatal resuscitation
Paediatric emergencies
Pyometra
Paraphimosis (foreskin stuck behind tip of penis)
89
Q

How are respiratory emergencies presented in cats?

A
Hunched over
Hiding
Coughing
Open mouth breathing
Blue gums
Foam at mouth
90
Q

What are signs of respiratory emergency in dogs?

A
Coughing
Exercise intolerance
High RR
Panting
Restless
Stretched neck
Cant lay on side
Abdominal breathing
Blue gums
91
Q

How to treat respiratory emergencies?

A

Secure airway
Supplement oxygen
Limit movement
Maintain temperature

92
Q

What are common neurological emergencies?

A
Head trauma
Seizure
Spinal cord disease
Loss of sensation
Vestibular disease
93
Q

Define status epilepticus

A

Long lasting seizures

94
Q

What is first aid for common neurological emergencies?

A

Limit movement
ABCs
Immobilise spine when needed
Head trauma- elevate head to 30 degrees to reduce brain pressure
Check temperature, toxin exposure or if hypoglycaemic

95
Q

Common toxins for dogs

A

Raisins
Chocolate
Onion
Grapes

96
Q

Common toxins for cats

A
Lilys
Paracetamol
Raisins
Onions
Chocolate
Grapes