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CATA 262 > Medical Emergencies > Flashcards

Medical Emergencies Flashcards

1
Q

What is a medical emergency?

A
  • injury or illness that is acute and possesses an immediate risk to a person’s life or long term health
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2
Q

Common medical emergencies

A
  • hyperventilation
  • asthma
  • epilepsy/seizure
  • anaphylaxis
  • syncope
  • diabetes
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3
Q

When do you do vitals for a medical emergency?

A

After primary (before secondary)

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4
Q

What is hyperventilation?

A
  • breathing more quickly
  • upsets balance of O2 and CO2
  • exhaling more than inhaling
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5
Q

Causes of hyperventilation

A
  • strong emotions (excitement, fear, anxiety)
  • asthma
  • injuries
  • exercise
  • life-threatening bleed
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6
Q

S/S hyperventilation

A
  • rapid, shallow breathing
  • feeling of not getting enough air
  • fear, anxiety, confusion
  • dizziness
  • numbness/tingling in fingers/toes
  • muscle contractions (hands, feet, arms, legs)
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7
Q

Hyperventilation Tx

A
  • 911 if does not stop after a few mins, person becomes unresponsive, or suspected injury/illness
  • remove from stressful environment
  • controlled breaths (breathe in slowly, hold, gradually exhale)
  • calm voice, reassure, contact, breathing pattern (can put their hands on chest and abdomen)
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8
Q

What is asthma?

A
  • chronic illness where substances/conditions cause inflammation/swelling of bronchioles
  • harder for air to move in/out of lungs
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9
Q

Asthma causes

A
  • air pollution
  • allergies
  • temp
  • strong odours
  • colds/flus
  • physical activity
  • respiratory infections
  • stress/anxiety
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10
Q

Asthma prevention

A
  • know triggers
  • have meds
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11
Q

Pathology of asthma

A

Bronchoconstriction: dyspnea, wheezing, coughing
- tightened smooth muscles
- swelling + mucus
- wall inflamed and thickened

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12
Q

Asthma medications (2 main types)

A

1- Long-term control
2- Quick-relief (bronchodilators)

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13
Q

How to take asthma meds

A
  • inhaler
  • nebulizer
  • orally
    (tripod position, NOT lying down)
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14
Q

S/S of asthma attack

A
  • wheezing/coughing/gasping
  • rapid, shallow breathing
  • anxiety/fear
  • tightness in chest
  • tingling in hands/feet
  • sweating
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15
Q

What is a seizure

A
  • episode of abnormal electrical signals in brain
  • temporary/involuntary disturbances in brain fcn
  • shaking/contraction of limbs (convulsions), changes in sensation, shifts in behaviour, altered LOC
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16
Q

Causes of seizures

A
  • epilepsy
  • fevers/infections
  • head injuries
  • heat stroke
  • poisons
  • drug/alcohol withdrawal
  • diabetic emergencies
  • audio-visual stimulation
17
Q

S/S of seizures

A
  • hallucinations
  • uncontrolled muscle mvmt
  • eyes rolling up
  • drool/foaming at mouth
  • repetitive motions
  • Aura
18
Q

Types of seizures

A
  • Tonic-clonic or convulsive (“grand mal”)
  • absence (“petit mal”)
  • focal or partial
19
Q

Describe tonic-clonic seizures

A
  • aura stage
  • tonic stage (convulsions, unresponsive)
  • clonic stage: twitching, irregular breathing
  • postictal stage: rest, regain responsiveness
    (total time: 1-3mins, up to 5)
20
Q

Describe absence seizures

A
  • brief, sudden lapses in responsiveness
  • blank stare
  • chewing motions, breath rapidly, blink rhythmically
  • no convulsions
  • no confusion after
  • 2-10 seconds
21
Q

Describe focal or partial seizures

A
  • begin in one specific part of brain
  • S/S vary depending on region
  • only affects one part of body
  • short
  • may or may not remain aware during seizure
22
Q

Seizure tx

A
  • 911
  • check medical history
  • time seizure
  • # seizures
  • verify for injuries (move objects out of way + protect head with soft object)
  • time of unresponsiveness
  • roll person to side if possible
    After: check ABCs, place in recovery position
23
Q

What is anaphylactic shock?

A
  • allergic rxn
  • immune system reacts in a sudden/exaggerated way to contact w/ an allergic substance (antigen)
24
Q

What is syncope?

A

Fainting - brief period of unresponsiveness when not enough blood flow to brain

25
Q

Fainting causes

A
  • sudden dec. in blood flow to brain
  • pregnancy
  • pain
  • heat
  • dehydration
  • dec. blood sugar
  • standing in 1 position for too long w/o moving
  • intense emotion
  • traumatic info
26
Q

Fainting S/S

A
  • paleness
  • dizziness
  • sweating
  • nausea
27
Q

Fainting tx

A
  • have person sit/lie down
  • call 911 if unresponsive for more than a few mins
  • find cause
  • UABCd
  • monitor
  • elevate legs (only if no spinal)

CATA 262 (10 decks)

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