Terms Flashcards
1
Q
reduction of oxygen carrying capacity of the blood
A
hypoxia
2
Q
3 types of poisons
A
ones inhaled, ingested, direct contact
3
Q
Priority Action Approach
A
you must QUICKLY
- find out who is injured
- give first aid
- inform BC EHS
- make sure patient gets to hospital
- ABC
- resitrct spinal movement if you think you need to
- rapid transport decision
it requires EFFICIENT USE OF TIME. major issues cannot be resolved in the field. get them to the hospital
- know your workplace, ins and outs, evacuation routes, where first aid stuff is, train others, keep procedures updated, review plans,
4
Q
hypoglycemia
A
not enough sugar in blood; associated with diabetes and insulin
5
Q
hyperglycemia
A
too much glucose in blood; no production of insulin
6
Q
head to toe examination
A
it is inpection and palpation; look and feel
- proceed downwards from head (neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, back, extremeties)
- methodical, focused, takes several mins
- look for injuries, painful areas that are not obvious
- watch for sharp objects
- any open wounds, lacerations, swelling, deformities (do NOT probe open wounds)
- difficulty in breathing, stridor, hoarseness
- breathing chest looks normal?
7
Q
hydroxocobalamin
A
antidote to cyanide given intravenously by physician trained to do so
8
Q
what is priapism, what is it assoacated with
A
persistent erection
spinal cord injury
9
Q
syncope
A
fainting
10
Q
trunk
A
torso of body (chest, abdomen, pelvis)
11
Q
prone
A
lying on stomach
12
Q
anterior
A
front of body
13
Q
posterior
A
back of body
14
Q
medial
A
closer to the midline
15
Q
superior
A
closer to head
16
Q
inferior
A
below, or closer to bottom of feet
17
Q
distal
A
away from trunk
used only with respect to a limb
18
Q
proximal
A
on limbs, toward the trunk
19
Q
scene assessment
A
look for hazards
what was the mechanism for injury
number of patients
20
Q
4 stages of PAA
A
scene assessment
primary survey
transportation decision
secondary survey
21
Q
3 options for transportation decision
A
- RTC (ambulance)
2, medical aid (needs aid, but not as quickly as possible. can use company car or taxi) - return to work
22
Q
the only interventions performed during primary survey
A
cardiac arrest
airway obstruction
severe bleeding
severe respiratory distress
23
Q
what is AVPU
A
alert - is patient aware of surroundings, time, date, name
verbal - can they respond, do eyes open
pain - do they move or cry out in pain
unresponsive
24
Q
agonal respiration
A
sporadi, ineffective, gasping, unusual rbreathing
common with cardiac arrest
25
dyspnea
shortness of breath
26
systole
conctraction of right and left ventricles
27
diastole
relaxation of heart while ventricles fill with blood
28
good amount of heart beats per minute
60 - 80, can change if theyre pregnant or athletes
29
definition of shock
state of inadequate perfusion of cells (not enough oxygen, too much CO2)
cells stop working, start to die, tissue dies, organs die
30
perfusion
flow of blood to and from the body cells
| it carries nutrients, oxygen, gets rid of CO2
31
tachypnea
increased respiratory rate between 20 - 30 breaths per minute
32
pleuritic pain
pain made worse by breathing - sign of chest injury
33
closed pneumothorax
closed injury
lung tissue is torn and air leaks from lung into pleural space. its in thoracic cavity but outside lung
leads to lung collapse
34
hemothorax
blood collects within pleural space
can be form open or closed wounds
shock
35
pulmonary contusion
bruise of the lung
from blunt injury
blood vessels are injured, blood is lost into tissue
36
hypothermia
core body temp less than 35 C
37
3 Ps of hemorrhage Control
Pressure
patient position at rest - lying down
prevent movement
38
ecchymosis
bruise or discolouration of the skin
39
sprain
stretching and or partial or complete tearing of a ligament at a joint
very in severity
should be treated as fracture if unsure
40
how to tell a sprain from fracture
mechanism of injury (how it happened)
was it from usual lifting and twisting? probably sprain
41
ASTD
activity related soft tissue disorder
42
tendonitis
inflammation of the tendon
43
synovitis
inflammation of the sheath surrounding tendon
44
hyphema
bleeding within eyeball
45
atherosclerosis
arteries become narrower; build up of fatty deposits in inner wall of artery (plaque)
46
embolus
clot breaks off and forms a plug
47
nomarl pulse rate
60-80
48
pulse in anterior neck
carotid pulse
49
pulse felt at wrist on flexor surface at base of thumb
radial pulse
50
what controls blood pressure
blood volume and capacity of veins
51
what happens when blood pressure drops
organs no longer adequately perfused; cells not getting oxygen and removing CO2
52
what is shock
inadequate perfusion of cells
53
does shock = RTC?
yes
54
what is perfusion
flow of blood to and from body cells
55
3 main causes of inadequate perfusion
less blood volume (blood loss, fluid loss)
damaged heart (cardiogenic shock)
blood vessels dilate excessively
56
blood pressure depends on
volume of blood
| resistance to flow of circulating blood by arterioles
57
arteriole resistance
back pressure exerted by arterioles on blood flow (like a nozzel on hose)
58
cardiogenic shock
heart muscle doesnt pump enough blood to peripheral tissues, mainly due to heart attack
59
other name for heart attac
myocardial infarction (MI)
60
distinct sign of septic shock
confusion, high fever with warm flushed skin, later cool and pale
61
when does a neurogenic shock occur
presence of cord injury with complete paralysis
| rare
62
what causes heart attack commonly
sudden obstruction of coronary artery or one of its branches
loss of blood supply and )2 to heart muscle
hypoxia of heart cells, then death
62
what causes heart attack commonly
sudden obstruction of coronary artery or one of its branches
loss of blood supply and )2 to heart muscle
hypoxia of heart cells, then death
63
leader of hearts electrical system
sinoatrial node (SA)
the pacemaker, 60 -100 impulses a minute
64
ventricular fibrillation
uncoordinated electrical impulse across heart
no pumping action or pulse
heart quivvers
life threatening
65
ventricular tachycardia (VT)
heart rhythm is so fast that heart may not have time to fill with blood
66
asystole
no electrical or mechanical activity in the heart
67
will AED work on VF?
yes
68
will AED work on asystole?
no
69
respiratory system
airway (nose, mouth, pharynx, trachea, bronchi)
lungs (bronchioles, alveoli, pleura)
thoracic muscles (intercostal moscules, diaphragm)
thoracic bones (ribs, sternum)
70
what is pharynx
throat
71
2 parts of pharynx
| seperated by what at top
esophagus (food) and trachea (air to lungs)
seperated by epiglottis
72
bronchi
left and right bronchus
2 main air tubes carry air to lungs from trachea
73
bronchioles
branches in lung, subdivide again and again, forming smaller tubes. smallest are called bronchioles
74
alveoli
cluster of sacs at the end of bronchioles
| thin walls, many tiny capillaries, passageway for oxygen and CO2
75
pleura
double walled sac surrounding lungs
one layer divides inside of chest cavity and other layer covers lungs
between them is pleural space
76
pneumothorax
collection of air in plueral space
| interferes with efficient respiration
77
mediastinum
thoracic space between lungs
| contains heart, major blood vessels, trachea, esophagus
78
3 processes essential for transfer of oxygen to blood through lungs
1. ventilation (air moves in and out of lungs)
2. diffusion (spontaneous movement of gases between gas in alveoli and blood capillaries in lungs)
3. perfusion (cardiovascular system pumps blood throughout lungs)
79
what does it mean if patient is unresponsive and not breathing/agonal breathing? what should you do?
its cardiac arrest probably
| CPR AED is initiated
80
an early sign of partial airway obstruction?
other signs?
stridor; high pitched noise present on inspiration or expiration or both
gurgling, noisy, congested breathing
hoarseness
81
early signs of complete airway obstruction?
cyanosis, no movements of chest
no air in and out of mouth
unable to vocalize (if conscious)
82
most common cause of airway obstruction? next common? next?
tongue blockage; it falls backwards and obstructs airway
then its foreign objects
then swelling from injury of soft tissue of throat or larynx
83
common causes of tissue damage in neck
direct blows to anterior of neck
facial fractures
smoke or chemica inhalation
84
techniques for opening, clearing airway
cough (if conscious)
finger sweep; visual check first, lift jaw and tongue. may need to move neck, but be mindful of spinal injury
head tilt chin lift (if unresponsive)
backblows (if standing)
abdominal thrusts (only on conscious)
chest thrusts
chest compressions (unrepsonsive)
85
when are backblows not affective
obstruction is due to swelling, secretions, bleeding, smoke, blunt neck or facial trauma
86
what are not helpful if airway obstruction due to swelling, secretions, bleeding, smoke, blunt neck or facial trauma?
chest compressions, backblows, abdominal thrusts
87
are patients with partial or complete airway obstruction RTC?
yes
88
when should chest thrusts be used
if patient is too obese or pregnant
89
what do you do once obstruction is cleared and breathing resumes for unresponsive patient
place in 3/4 prone and complete primary survey (circulation would be next)
90
how would you know if partial obstruction has cleared
patient breathing normally
| mouth is clear of fluids
91
what to do if airway doesnt clear and patient still not breathing?
initiate CPR and AED
| roll patient later, sweep to clear airway between sets of chest compressions
92
T or F: leave patient in supine position unattended with a decreased level of consciousness
F: put in 3/4 prone
93
causes of dyspnea
```
inadequate oxygen in air
obstruction to flow in airway, trachea, bronchi
trauma
inhalation injury, asthma
injury to chest wall
collapsed lung
emphysema (lung tissue loses elasticity, no longer respond to breathing)
lungs full of fluid
infected lung tissue
```
94
how to manage dyspnea
follow PAA, but
- ensure open airway
- if responsive, position for comfort (semi sitting, sitting, lying)
- assess adequacy of patients respiration, coach patient to focus on breathing
- complete primary survey (any wounds? chest injury?)
- update BC EHS
95
signs, symptoms of chest injury
```
pain at injury site
pleuritic pain (hurts to breath)
shortness of breath
failure of one or both sides of ches to expand
coughing blood
rapid and weak pulse
cool, moist skin
cyanosis
subcutanous emphysema
anxiety, fear
```
96
subcutanous emphysema
air under the skin tissues
97
2 broad types of chest injury
closed (skin intact) , crush etcinjuries
and
open ( chest wall has been penetrated), rib fracture
98
T or F; air should be allowed to excape from open chest wund
T
99
signs, symptoms of rib fractures
```
history of blow, compression to chest
pain at fracture site
pleural pain
patient leaning on injured side
patient wants to remain still
rib deformity
chest wall bruising
```
100
manage rib fractures?
follow PAA
cannot do too much
position for comfort if not at risk to neck, back, internal bleeding
they likely have other injuries
you dont wrap, strap or tape
101
flail chest
2 or more consecutive ribs are fractured in 2 or more places, or detached from the sternum
when patient inhales, flail part doesnt respond, and extrudes upon exhalation
causes bleeding of the lungs, very serioes, reduces volume of air into lungs
102
closed pneumothorax
lung tissue is torn, air leaks form lung into pleural space
its still in thoracic cavity, but outside lung
reduces volume of lungs
hypoxia ensues
usually caused by rib fracture
103
signs, symtoms of closed pneumothorax
```
history of chest trauma
bruising at site
pain at site
pleuritic pain
hard to breathe
cyanosis
rapid, weak pulse
subcutanous emphysema
```
104
open pneumothorax
penetrating wound of chest wall, collapses lung
| air passes back and forth
105
tension pneumothorax
accumulation of air in pleural space under pressure
collapses lung on side of injury, then displaces mediastinum away from air filled pleural space
can be from blunt or penetrating wound
increased pressure on heart and lung, leads to dyspnea and shock
106
signs, symptoms of tension pneumothorax
severe progressive respiratory distress
distended neck veins due to obstruction of superior vena cava
marked overexpansion of chest on affected side
agitation and restlessness
deviation, shift of trachea away from side of tension
107
hemothorax
blood collects within pleural space, caused by open or closed chest injury
hidden, severe
leads to shock
has general signs of chest injury
108
pulmonary contusion
bruise of lung
associated with blunt injury
can mean significant blood losss into lung tissue
may lead to respiratory distress
109
blast injury
sudden changes in air pressure in lungs leads to widespread damage and bleeding
alveoli fill with blood, prevent normal exchange of gases
110
signs symptoms of smoke inhalation
```
inflammation of mouth, larynx, trachea
sore throat, hoarseness, shortness of breath
cough
headache or dizziness, restlessness, confusion
cyanotic, pale
facial burns
fluid formation in lower airway, alveoli
can be delayed effects
```
111
info important in smoke inhalation
location of worker when exposed
duration of exposure
presence of toxic substances
decreased level of consciousness?
112
asthma
narrowing of airways that occur intermittently
can be mild shortness of breath to profound respiratory failure and death
causes bronchospasm
113
bronchospasm
caused by asthma
| contraction of smooth muscles of walls of airways (bronchi, bronchioles), leads to airway constriction
114
severe prolonged asthmatic attack, doesnt respond to medications
status asthmaticus
115
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
COPD
long standing obstructive airway diseases
diffuse obstruction to airflow within lungs and dyspnea, both due to destruction of lung tissue
it is like emphysema and chronic bronchitis
usuallu caused by smoking
116
chronic bronchitis
repeated infection of bronchial tree
usually caused by smoking
its inflammation, swelling, excesive mucus in airways
117
pneumonia
dieases; exudation of serum and cels into alveolar spaces and small bronchioles
slows down blood supply surrounding alveoli, thickeing of alveolar walls by fluid and cells
causes hypoxia
118
pulmonary edema
accumulation of fluid within alveoli
causes impairment of flow of oxygen from alveoli into the blood
usually caused by left ventricular failure
119
heat is lost through 4 ways
evaporation
radiation
convection
conduction
120
hyperthermia is above what temperature
another name for hyperthermia
41C
heatstroke
your brain, heart, kidney are unable to survive, organ dysfunction occurs
due to heat, not enough fluids and salts and some medications
121
heat cramps
salt imbalance in muscle
occurs when you sweat alot
onset is usually delayed
replenish salts and fluids!
not salt tablets; theyll make you puke
122
heat exhaustion
depletion of water and salt during long periods of exertion
123
signs of heat exhaustion
```
shallow respiration
increased respiratory rate
weak rapid pulse
cool, pale clammy skin
sweating
weakness, fatigue, dizziness
headache, nausea
fainting
```
124
how to tell difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke
absence of sweating is in heatstroke
| same with hot, dry skin
125
signs of heat stroke
```
hot, dry flushed skin
no sweating
agitation, confusion
DLOC
headache
nausea, vomiting
seizures,
increased respiratory rate
irregular pulse
shock
cardiac arrest
```
126
is heatstroke RTC?
yes
127
what to do with heat stroke
RTC
do all you can do to lower body temp (cool spot in shade, supine unless vomiting)
- apply cold water by dousing or wet sheets
- fan patient
- oral fluids if not vomiting and conscious
128
immersion foot
prolong exposure to cold water
| pale and cold skin
129
basic responses to cold injury
remove wet, cold clothing
get to warm space
rewarm affected part
130
frostnip vs frostbite
nip: minor cold injury, no soft tissue damage
bite: damage to soft tissues
131
who is more vulnerable to cold injuries?
those with pre existing circulatory disorders
if you wear constrictive clothing
working in cramped conditions (reduced blood flow)
132
signs, symptoms of frostbite
pain, redness at first (body is trying to raise temp by pushing blood to area)
injury then becomes pale, numb, tingling
may appear white, mottled with blue and white patches
133
management of frostbite
PAA; ABCs are priority
frostbite not as serious as hypothermia
remove wet cold clothing
limit exposure
apply dressing, wrap extremity in dry blankets
dont rub!
lightly cover affected part with sterile gauze dressings
dont break blisters
handle limb gently, immoboloize with splint
rewarm as quickly as possible
134
PAA for hypothermia
should extract to safe environment
ABCs, stuff as usual
assess breathing for 30 seconds, as their metabolix demands are lower
hypothermia and rough handling can lead to cardiac arrest, but patient is less vulnerable to this in this state
RTC
135
adrenalin and noradrenalin cause
increased heart rate, more forceful contraction
constriction of arterioles in non vital organs (skin, liver, kidneys, guts), redistributes blood to vital organs
profuse sweating; increases fluid loss, makes shock worse. key sign of shock
