Medical Emergencies In The Pre Hospital Environment

Question 1

Angina
Is defined as ‘chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle’.

There are two main types which are they?

Answer 1

1 - Stable Angina - a patient experiences episodes of pain often caused by exertion which is usually relieved by rest and sometimes prescribed medication.

2 - unstable Angina - a patient experiences episodes of pain at any time without any identifiable cause.

Question 2

Angina Causes
Angina is usually caused by the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscles becoming narrowed by a build-up of fatty substances.

This is called atherosclerosis

Things that can increase your risk of atherosclerosis include:

Answer 2

• an unhealthy diet
• a lack of exercise
• smoking
• increasing age
• a family history of atherosclerosis or heart problems

Question 3

Recognition features of Angina

Answer 3

May include:
- Central chest pain which can be dull / heavy / crushing in nature which may be triggered by exertion and relieved by rest.
- Complaining of indigestion
- Pain may radiate into the jaw,, neck, back, arms.
- feeling sick
- Breathless

Question 4

Patient management

Positioning:

Medication:

Monitor vital signs:

Update /contact ambulance control:

Answer 4

Support your patient to sit in a comfortable position; the ‘lazy W’ is recommended, provide reassurance.

Ask if they have been prescribed any medication to manage the condition. Probably GTN.
If so ask them if they have taken it as prescribed.

Gain a complete set of vital signs

Update control if the situation is worse than you were led to believe.
The patient medication has had no affect after 5 mins

Question 5

Heart attack

Recognition features may include;

Answer 5

Similar to angina but symptoms don’t ease with rest.

Heavy/crushing chest pain that may radiate to the neck, jaw, back or arms.

Sweating

Feeling of impending doom.

Pale, clammy skin,

Shortness of breath

Pulse may be slow and/or irregular

Blood pressure may sometimes be low

Question 6

Heart attack patient management

Positioning?

Medication?

Answer 6

Lazy W

GTN spray (Nitro gliteral spray)
medication may bring partial or no relief of symptoms.

Be prepared to carry out basic life support

Question 7

RESPIRATORY conditions
What are the main two respiratory conditions we encounter are?

Answer 7

Asthma

COPD

Question 8

Asthma

Definition

Answer 8

This condition is due to inflammation of the air passages in the lungs.

In attack the lining of the passages swell causing the airways to narrow and reducing the flow of air on and out of the lungs.