medical emergencies Flashcards
what system is used to determine someones general health?
ASA system
GDC principles for medical emergencies?
- at least 2 people available to deal with emergency WHEN treatments planned
- all members of staff should know their role
- all members of staff trained, prepared, practice regularly
how to clear airway
head tilt/chin lift jaw thrust if injury or flexion deformity finger sweep suction air way adjuncts e.g. geudel
how to asses D = disability in ABCDE
ACVPU
what position should you put someone suffering from anaphylaxis in?
lie flat + raise legs
what position should you put someone who’s pregnant in?
left later position
not flat or right - if in late pregnancy as uterus can press ion on inferior vena cava
what type of o2 is in emergency drug box?
CD type cycliner
lasts for 30 mins 15/litres/min
via non-rebreathe mask
how would you respond to anaphylaxis?
call for ambulance secure airway lie flat with feet up o2 100% 15 litres/min adrenaline 0.5ml 1:1000 IM repeat in 5 mins if needed
how to identify acute severe asthma attacks
A - inability to complete sentence in 1 breath
B - resp rate >25 per min
C - tachycardia >110 beat per min
how to identify life threatening asthma
resp rate <8 per mine
bradycardia <50 per min
confusion, exhaustion, decreased consciousness
how to respond to asthma attack
life threatening asthma - priority get to hospital
sit patient up
100% o2 15litres/min
patient bronchodilator 2 puffs - if unavailable salbutamol inhaler 4 puffs (100mg per actuation) through large volume spacer
repeat every 10 mins
4 signs of cardiac arrest
- loss of consciousness
- absence of normal breathing
- loss of pulse
- dilation of pupils
how to respond to angina/MI
diagnose - does it feel like normal angina attack?
100% o2 15litres/min GTN 2 puffs (400mg per dose) sublingually repeat after 3 mines if don't respond - call ambulance 300mg aspirin chew
how to respond to epilepsy
move out of harm
if longer than 5 mins:
10mg midazolam topically into buccal cavity
in children - rectal diazepam or buccolam
3 key signs of hypoglycaemia
- aggression + confusion
- sweating
- tachycardia >110 per min
how to respond to hypoglycaemia
100% o2 15litres/min
if conscious: 10-20g oral glucose every 10-15 mins
if unconscious: glucagon 1mg IM + oral glucose 10-20g when conscious
diagnosis of hypoglycaemia
<4mmol/litres
signs of Addisons crisis
loss of consciousness
rapid, weak, impalpable pulse
rapid fall in BP
how to deal with Addisons crisis
lay patient flat + raise legs
O2
paramedics - 200mg IV hydrocortisone +IV fluids
may medical emergency in children?
cardiopulmonary arrest
how to secure paediatric airway
into neutral position - don’t extend neck
how does breathing + pulse rate differ between adults + children
higher in children
how to do CPR in child/infant?
5 initial ventilations before chest compressions
compress to one third of depth
2 finger for infants
how to deal with choking in infant?
chest thrusts - reduces risk of rupture of liver + spleen
across lap
5 sharp inter-scapular blows
2 shockable arrhythmias
VF + pulseless ventricular tachycardia
2 non shockable arrhythmias
systole + PEA (pulseless electrical activity)
what type of arrhythmia could be caused by the 4 hs of 4 ts?
PEA
must address these problems for recovery
at what angle do you inject subcutaneous glucagon?
45 degrees to skin
where do you inject epipen?
anterolateral thigh - hold for 10 seconds + rub in
5 vital signs
- BP
- pulse rate
- temp
- resp rate
- oxygen saturation
what is NEWS?
national early warning score - overall score for vital sings
normal temp range
35.5-37.5
bradycardia rate
<50 beats per min
beta blockers, heart block, athletes
tachycardia rate
> 90 beats per min
sepsis, shock, anxiety
what is an irregularly irregular pulse a sign of?
atrial fibrillation
what is a regularly irregular pulse a sign of?
heart block
approx value for normal rest rate?
~14 breaths per min
how far does chest compress in adult CPR?
1/3
normal blood pressure range?
90/60 - 120/80
blood pressure threshold for treatment?
140/90
how to measure systolic pressure
korotkov sounds
what does 120/80 mmhg mean?
120 systolic/ 80 diastolic
