Mechanism of Injury - Nature of Illness

Question 1

Hyperglycemia

Answer 1

High blood sugar
Fasting normal range for
Adults: 70-100 mg/dL
Children under 6 may be higher

Question 2

Pleurisy

Answer 2

Inflammation of the pleura (lining of the lung cavity) caused by a viral or bacterial infection

Question 3

Cardiac tamponade

Answer 3

Is caused by compression of the heart due to fluid build up around it, causing hypotension and tachycardia, along with chest pain and shortness of breath.

Question 4

Pneumothorax

Answer 4

refers to a collapsed lung due to air entering the pleural space and would cause diminished lung sound on the affected side.

Question 5

COPD exacerbation

Answer 5

or flare-up, is a sudden worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms that can last for days or weeks.

More coughing
Changes to the color, thickness, or amount of mucus
Difficulty breathing or taking a deep breath
Wheezing or noisy breathing
Fatigue or tiredness
Trouble sleeping
Anxiety
Swelling of the ankles or legs

Question 6

Hypovolemia

Answer 6

also known as volume contraction or volume depletion, is a condition where the body has abnormally low levels of extracellular fluid (ECF). This can be caused by a loss of water and salt, or a decrease in blood volume. ECF is a part of the body’s total water, which is about 50–60% of body weight. ECF is further divided into intravascular and extravascular (interstitial) spaces.

Symptoms:

Question 7

Hypoglycemia

What is it?
Symptoms
Treatment

Answer 7

A condition in which the body’s blood sugar level goes below the standard range.
Blood sugar, which also is called glucose, is the body’s main source of energy. When blood sugar falls below a healthy level, it can cause a variety of problems. Hypoglycemia often is related to diabetes treatment. But other medicines and a variety of conditions — many of them rare — can cause low blood sugar in people who don’t have diabetes.

Symptoms may include shakiness, sweating, headache, nausea, uneven heartbeat, fatigue, irritability, problems concentrating, dizziness, lightheadedness, and tingling or numbness of the lips, tongue or cheek. Confusion, loss of coordination, slurred speech or blurry vision can happen too. Severe cases may trigger a loss of consciousness or seizures.

Hypoglycemia needs treatment right away. Treatment involves quickly getting blood sugar back to within the standard range either with a high-sugar food or drink or with medicine. Long-term treatment requires finding and treating the cause of hypoglycemia.

Question 8

Hypoglycemia
NYS Protocol

Answer 8

According to the New York State EMS Collaborative Protocols, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) can administer oral glucose to patients who are hypoglycemic (<60 mg/dL) and awake, and can maintain their airway:
Administer oral glucose as per the NYS BLS Protocol
Repeat vital signs and AVPU after 5 minutes, including a repeat D-stick
If the patient has a diabetic history and an IV route is unavailable, EMTs can also administer:
Glucagon: 1 mg, IM or IN
Lorazepam: 2 mg, IV bolus, or IN or IM
If the patient is hypoventilating or has respiratory arrest, EMTs can also administer:
Naloxone (Narcan): 2 mg IN, which can be repeated once in 5 minutes if there is no significant improvement
4mg/0.1mL nasal spray: As a substitute for the Naloxone

Question 9

Hypovolemic shock
NYS protocol

Answer 9

EMTs should assess and treat hypovolemic shock while en route to the nearest appropriate hospital:
Breathing: Assess breathing and administer oxygen if needed
Circulation: Assess circulation and control life-threatening hemorrhaging
Intercept with ALS: If available, intercept with an ALS unit en route to the hospital
Hypovolemic shock occurs when the body has a low volume of blood available for circulation. Signs of hypovolemic shock include:
Marked tachycardia
Marked tachypnea
Decreased systolic pressure
5–15 ml per hour urine output
Alteration in mental status
Diaphoresis with cool, pale skin

Question 10

ventricular fibrillation

Answer 10

A type of tachycardia called ventricular fibrillation is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention. During ventricular fibrillation, blood pressure drops dramatically. The person’s breathing and pulse stop because the heart is not pumping any blood to the body. This also is called cardiac arrest.

Question 11

Tachycardia

Answer 11

Tachycardia, also known as tachyarrhythmia, is a heart rate that’s faster than normal, usually over 100 beats per minute for adults. It can be normal, like during exercise, or abnormal, like when there are electrical problems in the heart.
Tachycardia can cause palpitations, which feel like a racing, pounding, or flopping heartbeat in the chest.
Other symptoms include: Chest pain, Fainting, Lightheadedness, Rapid pulse, and Shortness of breath.