Medical Emergencies Flashcards
Medical emergency immediate protocol
ABCDE
How to assess airway
Can patient talk
Listen for stridor/snore/wheezing
Manoeuvres to assess airway
Head tilt chin lift
Jaw thrust
Oropharyngeal airway
What is a normal respiratory rate?
12-20 breaths per min
How to check breathing
Look for chest rising
What is respiratory rate
The number of breaths you take per min
02 saturation levels
98% normal
82% fingers and lips go blue
60% tongue goes blue (hypoxic)
How to check patients circulation
Pts pulse on wrist or neck
What is normal heart rate
60-99bpm
Time frame for capillary refill to be a sign of organ perfusion
Under 2s on fingertips
How to check disability
ACVPU - Glasgow Coma Scale
Alert
Confusion
Verbal
Pain
Unresponsive
Assess pupils - size + symmetry
How to check exposure
Rashes - sign of anaphylaxis/adverse drug reaction
ABCDE for anaphylaxis
A - swelling
B - increased RR
C - increased HR
D - LOC
E - rash/swelling
Tx for anaphylaxis
Do not stand up as can cause cardiac arrest
Lie flat elevate legs
Administer 15l 02 100% non rebreathable mask
Administer adrenaline 0.5ml 1:1000
If not effective repeat at 5 min intervals
Dose of adrenaline in an epi pen
0.3mg
ABCDE for asthma
A- struggling to talk
B - increased RR
C - increased HR
D - often alert
E - tripod position to get more O2 in
Tx for asthma
Mild/moderate
Salbutamol 100mg 2x puff with spacer (can give up to 10 puffs)
15l/min 100% O2 non rebreathable mask
Life threatening
RR <8
HR <50
Begin chest compressions
ABCDE for angina
A - talking
B - increased RR
C - increased HR
D - chest pain, pain spreading to left or right arm
E - pale, clammy, central chest pain, sick, lightheaded
Tx for angina
ABCDE
2 sprays GTN sublingually
If pt doesn’t have satisfactory BP and doesn’t improve after GTN then consider MI and give aspirin
ABCDE for MI
A - talking
B - increased RR
C - increased HR
D - chest pain, pain spreading to left or right arm
E - pale, clammy, central chest pain, sick, lightheaded
Tx for MI
GTN spray 2x sublingually
300mg dispersible Aspirin chewed, no water for 10 mins as absorbed through oral mucosa
ABCDE for seizure
A - can be compromised
B - can be altered
C - can be altered
D - unresponsive
E - seizure activity, incontinence
Tx for seizure
Make environment safe
Recovery position
o2
If longer than 5mins or 3 or more in 1 hour then administer midazolam or oromucosal solution 10mg
ABCDE for Hypoglycaemia
A - initially talking, slurred
B - initially increased but can then decrease
C - initially increased HR but can then decrease
D - initially alert can lead to LOC
E - irritable, confused, sleepy, blurred vision
Tx for Hypoglycaemia
If alert:
3-4 glucose tablets
If unconscious or unable to swallow:
IM glucagon injection
ABDCE for syncope
A - compromised
B - reduced rate
C - reduced rate
D - unresponsive
E - pale, clammy, dizzy, lightheaded
Tx for syncope
Lie flat elevate legs loosen tight cloting
Can give O2 but usually not needed
Once conscious offer glucose
Choking tx
Ask if can cough (then can breathe)
5 back slaps
5 abdominal thrusts
Adrenaline for Anaphylaxis drug dose
IM injection
Tension on thigh, aspirate
On removal bring out half then fully remove to avoid loss of drug
Salbutamol (B2 bronchodilator) for asthma attack dose
100mg 2 puffs spacer
GTN spray for angina/MI dose
400mg 2 sprays sublingually
Aspirin for MI dose
300mg dispersible - absorbed by oral mucosa
Glucose for Hypoglycaemia dose
20g fast acting glucose
3 glucose tablets or glucogel
Glucagon for Hypoglycaemia (pt unable to swallow/unconscious)
1mg iM
Midazolam oromucosal solution for seizure dose
10mg midazolam into buccal sulcus
Always give o2 as well
