Respiratory

Question 1

What are the basic causes for respiratory emergencies?

Answer 1

1. Lack of available oxygen: environment, O2 is being displaced or used up.
2. Blocked airway: tongue if unconscious, foreign objects or airway swells shut.
3. Abnormal heart and lung function: illness, trauma, drug overdose or poisoning.

Question 2

What is hypoxia and what are the sign and symptoms?

Answer 2

A condition where insufficient oxygen reaches the cells.

• Increased/difficult breathing.
• Change in level of consciousness.
• Restlessness.
• Chest pains.
• Increased heart rate.
• Cyanosis.

Question 3

How do you treat respiratory emergencies?

Answer 3

1. Ensure EMS or check, call, care.
2. Primary survey ABC’s.
3. Administer appropriate oxygen.
4. Monitor and treat for shock.

Question 4

What are the different types of airway management tools?

Answer 4

• OPA (oral pharangeal airway).
• NPA (nasal pharangeal airway).
• BVM (bag valve mask).
• Suction.
• Oxygen administration.

Question 5

How do you measure an OPA and an NPA?

Answer 5

OPA: from the angle of the mandible to the corner of the mouth.

NPA: from the angle of the mandible to the corner of the nose, then for the circumference use the size of the casualties pinky.

Question 6

What is required when administering supplemental oxygen?

Answer 6

1. Appropriate type of oxygen cylinder.
2. Pressure regulator with a flow meter.
3. Oxygen delivery device.

Question 7

What is a pressure regulator?

Answer 7

Reduces the pressure coming out of the cylinder from 2000 psi to 70 psi. It also indicates the amount of oxygen in the cylinder.

Question 8

What is a flow meter?

Answer 8

An adjustable metering device that allows the oxygen to be delivered in liters per minute.

Question 9

What are the different supplemental oxygen delivery devices?

Answer 9

1. Pocket mask: at 6 + lpm = 50% available oxygen to a breathing casualty, 35% available oxygen to a non-breathing casualty.
2. BVM: 10 + lpm = 90% + available oxygen to a breathing or non-breathing casualty.
3. Non-re-breather mask: 10 + lpm = 90% available oxygen to a breathing casualty.
4. Nasal cannula: 1-4 lpm = 24-36% available oxygen to a breathing casualty only.

Question 10

What is the formula to calculate the duration of oxygen?

Answer 10

Gage pressure in psi - residual pressure x constant ÷ flow in lpm

Residual pressure: 200
Cylinder constant: D=0.16, E=0.28