Medical emergency Flashcards
What is A?
Airway - is the airway open?
What do you check airway for?
Is it open?
Are there noises? Strider wheezing gurling
Noise = partial blockage
No noise = complete blockage
What is B?
Breathing
What do you check for with breathing?
Respiratory rate
SP02 levels
Chest expansion
What is a normal respiratory rate and a concerning rate?
Normal - 12-20
Concerning - >25
What should SP02 levels be?
96% and above
What is C?
Circulation
What are you checking for with circulation?
Pulse
Blood pressure
CRT
What is a normal and concerning pulse?
Normal - 60-100bpm
Concerning - >100bpm
What is normal high and low blood pressure?
Normal - 120/70
Hypertension - 140/90
Hypotension - 90/60
What should CRT be?
2 second below
What is D?
Disability
What are u checking for disability?
ACVPU
blood glucose
What is ACVPU?
Alert
Confusion
Verbal
Pain
Unconscious
What is a hypoglycaemic level?
<4mmols
What is E?
Exposure
What are you checking for with exposure?
Blood loss
Swelling
Rash
Temperature
What could a high temperature (pyrexial) imply?
Sepsis
What is myocardial infarction?
Heart attack
What are signs and symptoms of a heart attack?
Severe, crushing central chest pain which can radiate to neck jaw shoulders left arm and back)
Pallor, sweating
Nausea/ vomiting
Breathlessness
What is the first thing you do in the instance of a medical emergency?
Call 999 and ABCDE approach
What position would you put a patient in with signs of a heart attack?
Comfortable
What would you administer for a heart attack?
GTN - 2 activations
If no allergy - 300mg aspirin orally (crushed or chewed)
Cyanosis/ losing consciousness - 15l/min 02
What are signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia?
Shaking
Slurred speech
Vagueness
Sweating
Double vision
Confusion
Unconsciousness
Children - lethargic
What would you do first when suspecting a hypoglycaemic patient?
Measure blood glucose
Call 999 if patient not responsive
What would you administer to a conscious hypoglycaemic patient?
10-20g glucose - orange juice, non diet fizzy drinks, 4 x glucose tablets/gel
What would you administer to an impaired conscious hypoglycaemic patient?
Buccal glucose gel and or glucagon 1mg IM
Once consciousness returns offer oral glucose
What is the paediatric dose of glucagon for hypoglycaemia?
<8 years/ <25kg: 0.5mg
What are signs and symptoms of syncope?
Faint/ dizzy/ light headed
Collapse and loss of consciousness
Pallor, sweating, slow pulse, low BP
nausea/ vomiting
How do you manage a patient with syncope?
Lie flat and elevate legs
Loosen tight clothing
Administer 02 15l/min
If unresponsive check for signs of life
