First aid Flashcards
Define first aid
Provision of initial care for illness or injury to preserve wellbeing and promote recovery
Who can perform first aid?
Any as long as it is to preserve life, prevent suffering and prevent deterioration until vet can diagnose and treat
What does schedule 3 state about providing first aid?
Vet nurses must be competent at first aid and vets are allowed to direct nurses to carry out limited surgery
How to answer telephone calls for emergency situations
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
How to determine urgency of patients over the phone?
Known toxins? Onset time of signs? Current conditions or medications? Breathing? Normal walking? Consciousness? Trauma?
What are examples of life threatening emergencies?
Respiratory distress Severe bleeding Collapse/unconscious Rapid abdominal distension Inability to urinate Neurological abnormalities Vomiting and diarrhoea Extreme pain Toxin ingestion Bone fracture Dystocia
How to advise owners when animal is haemorrhaging?
Keep calm to reduce heart rate
Apply pressure with clean cloth
Tourniquet distal limbs when less than 20 minutes to practice
How to advise owners when animal has foreign object?
Don’t remove
Keep calm and still
Get to vets ASAP
What should you do when you establish condition is non life threatening?
Take standard history
Ask further questions
What are examples of non-life threatening conditions?
Mild vomiting and diarrhoea Small wounds Minimal blood loss Polyuria Polydipsia Weight bearing lameness Short single seizure
How to advise owner with broken bones?
Keep patient confined
Support patient
Prevent further movement
How to transport emergency patients?
Be aware they may be unpredictable
Best kept in crate
For large dogs carry on board/blanket
What should be the priority when giving first aid out of practice?
Own safety especially with wildlife
What is the purpose of an emergency crash trolley?
Immediate access to life saving drugs and equpitment
What emergency equipment is used in practice?
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
What drugs should be present on crash trolley?
Cardiac resuscitation Anticonvulsants Steroids Analgesics Anaesthetics Fluids
Define triage
Organising according to condition severity to provide appropriate treatment
List the stages of triage
Phone call Primary survey Assessment of 3 major body systems Urinary Pain Capsule history Secondary survey
How to prepare for triaging an incoming patient?
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
What needs to be observed as the initial primary survey?
Airways
Breathing
Circulation
What are the 3 major body systems?
Cardiovascular
Respiration
Neurological
What cardiovascular parameters need to be assessed?
Heart rate
Pulse quality
Mucous membrane colour
CRT
What respiratory parameters need to be assessed?
Respiratory rate
Respiratory effort
Changes with inspiration and expiration
What neurological factors need to be assessed?
Gait Mentation/consciousness Temperature Sensation in all of body Seizures
What urinary system parameters need to be assessed?
Any obstructions
Size of bladder
When is capsule history not taken in triage?
When patient is unstable and needs to go straight to vet, gets taken later
What is recorded in capsule history?
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
What is the purpose of the secondary survey?
Identify problems that could rapidly become life threatening
What should be assessed in secondary survey?
Nose Mouth Eyes Ears Thorax Abdomen Limbs and tail
What are general nursing requirements alongside providing first aid?
Keep calm and quiet Keep comfortable Allow toileting Managing dressings and catheters Monitoring parameters Feeding
What parameters need to be monitored in patients undergoing first aid and how often?
Pulse MM Respiration Temperature Demeanour Every 15 minutes Body weight every 12 hours Also consider urine output, BP, ECG, CVP, blood gases where appropriate
Define CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Basic life support to keep blood and oxygen circulating
What are signs of impending cardiac arrest?
Gasping, laboured breathing Lack of or weak heart beat Rapid pulses Unconsciousness Fixed dilated pupils and lack of reflex
List the stages of CPR
Record time Call for help Assign roles Start compressions Secure airway and give oxygen Monitor Place IV catheter Connect ECG
What are the roles in a CPR team?
Cardiac compressor, swapped every minute Ventilation provider Recorder Medicating and placing catheters Monitoring for pulse and repsiration
How should you perform compressions?
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
How to ventilate in a patient
Secure airway with ET tube
Inflate lungs to normal rise and fall
20 breaths per minute
Can use capnograph to measure CO2
What equipment is needed for CPR?
Ambubag Anaesthetic machines and circuits ET tubes, face masks and laryngoscope IV catheters Recording sheet and pen ECG and capnograph