Special Challenges Emergencies Flashcards
Physical Abuse
Defined as intentional act such as striking, hitting, or biting a child that results in injury
Neglect
Four times more common than physical abuse
Sexual Abuse
Inappropriate dressing, touching to disabled patients
Emotional Abuse
Children, dependent elderly, and other vulnerable people
Causes substantial emotional response in behavior in children
Recognizing Neglect or Abuse
Child who does not become agitated
Who does not look for parent reassurance
May cry excessively or not at all
-80% of head injuries in patients younger than 2 years is a result of abuse
Mongolian Spots
Lesions that resemble bruises typically on buttocks or back that present at birth
Benign Injuries
Coining and Cupping
- rubbing hot coins
- warm cups on skin pull out illness
Management of Abuse/Neglect
First priority: self safety
Second priority: provide optimal clinical care to patient
Don’t make hasty assumptions
Document situation!
Mandatory Reporters
EMS is mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect
APS
Adult Protective Services
-for neglected or abused children
Terminal Illness
Disease that is expected to cause death within 6 months
Curative Care
Continuous aggressive medical care that attempts to prolong life
Palliative Care
“Comfort Care”
Focus on improving the quality of the time that the patient has left
Hospice
Program that provides social and emotional support
May receive at home, hospital and long term care facilities
Surrogate-Decision Maker
Legally authorized to make health care decisions for that patient when patient is not able to to make them for them self
Communicable Diseases
Medical conditions that can be passed from one person to another by variety of modes
-gloves and eye wear mandatory
Tracheostomy Tubes
Long term replacement for ET tubes
- passes below the thyroid cartilage into the trachea
- needs humidified and warmed air
- Obturator: rounded tip that extends out the bottom end of the trachea
- follow DOPE acronym for trouble shooting trach tubes
- have patient that deep breath or preoxygenate before entering suction into tube
Fenestrated
Teach tube that has holes present in outer and inner canulas
False Lumen
If suction catheter meets resistance outside of cannula it may be displaced
Stoma
Incision from which a trach tube has been insrted
Diaphragm/Phrenic Nerve stimulators
New technology that stimulates the process of breathing for a patient without an external device
Asynchrony
May occur when breathing is stimulated and is being ventilated by EMS
VAD’s
Ventricular Assist Device
- receive devices while awaiting a heart transplant
- connected to either both or right or left ventricles
Apnea Monitors
Infants with high risk of SIDS have one
-usually have ECG tracings