Terms 5,8,10

Question 1

history of present illness

Answer 1

a description of the circumstances surrounding the events of an incident; includes all subjective descriptions presented by the patient (or a bystander, if the patient cannot tell you).

Question 2

tachycardia

Answer 2

a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute in adults.

Question 3

basket stretcher

Answer 3

a lightweight device used to transport a patient during a backcountry rescue; sometimes called a “Stokes” stretcher.

Question 4

long spine board (LSB)

Answer 4

a long rectangular board, 16 inches wide by 72 inches long, on which a patient with a spinal injury is placed.

Question 5

anticoagulant

Answer 5

a medication that prevents blood from clotting; a “blood-thinner.”

Question 6

drag

Answer 6

a method of moving a patient on the ground to another location.

Question 7

stair chair

Answer 7

a portable evacuation chair that enables a patient to be transported in a seated position.

Question 8

Trendelenburg position

Answer 8

a position in which the patient’s head is lowered 15-30 degrees (below the level of the heart) while the feet are simultaneously raised approximately 15-30 degrees; is generally used for patients who are in shock.

Question 9

communication

Answer 9

a process by which a message is transmitted from one person to another.

Question 10

erythrocyte

Answer 10

a red blood cell.

Question 11

patient care report

Answer 11

a report that documents a patient’s complaints and past medical history, plus a chronological account of the examination and treatment of the patient; is a legal document.

Question 12

sepsis

Answer 12

a serious medical condition caused by the presence of pathogenic organisms or thier toxins in the blood leading to a systemic inflammatory response.

Question 13

Rothberg position

Answer 13

a sitting position in which the patient’s upper body is raised 45 degrees and the knees are slightly bent; is used often for patients who are experiencing chest pain or a suspected heart attack.

Question 14

semi-Fowler position

Answer 14

a sitting position in which the patient’s upper body is raised to 45 degrees; is commonly used for patients who are awake and are not suspected of having a serious injury or illness.

Question 15

high-Fowler position

Answer 15

a sitting position with the patient’s body bent at the waist to 90 degrees; is typically used for patients who are experiencing severe breathing problems.

Question 16

resistance blood vessel

Answer 16

a small artery whose wall contains muscle cells capable of contraction; as a result, such vessels can constrict and dilate to redistribute blood flow.

Question 17

orthopedic stretcher

Answer 17

a two-piece device that is slightly concave and has an open center section; is used to transport a patient; also called a “scoop” stretcher.

Question 18

landing zone (LZ)

Answer 18

an area used to land a helicopter; for fixed wing aircraft, the LZ is a temporary runway.

Question 19

mandated reporter

Answer 19

an individual (such as a social worker, physician, teacher, police, EMT, or counselor) who is required to report to the appropriate authorities certain types of injuries or the suspicion of specific crimes.

Question 20

hand-off report

Answer 20

an oral report given at the transfer of a patient from one provider to another.

Question 21

shock

Answer 21

failure of the circulatory system to maintain adequate blood flow to tissues.

Question 22

incident report forms

Answer 22

forms provided by the National Ski Area Association, a ski resort, or an insurance carrier and used by OEC Technicians to document an incident; the forms include the circumstances leading to injury.

Question 23

occult

Answer 23

hidden.

Question 24

diaphoresis

Answer 24

inappropriate excessive sweating.

Question 25

capacity

Answer 25

indicates the patient has normal decision-making abilities and whose judgment is not impaired.

Question 26

field care notes

Answer 26

notes written by OEC Technicians at the scene of a patient rescue; include a time line, vital signs, witnesses’ names, and other pertinent information.

Question 27

hemoglobin

Answer 27

oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.

Question 28

tachypnea

Answer 28

respirations greater than 20 breaths per minute in adults.

Question 29

platelets

Answer 29

solid elements in the blood that aid in clotting.

Question 30

lift

Answer 30

the act of raising a person from a lower position to a higher position.

Question 31

carry

Answer 31

the act of taking or supporting the movement of a person from one location to another.

Question 32

patient package

Answer 32

the combination of the patient, any equipment needed to care for the patient, and the device used to transport the patient.

Question 33

oxygen saturation

Answer 33

the degree to which oxygen has bound to hemoglobin.

Question 34

move

Answer 34

the passage of a patient from one location to another.

Question 35

body mechanics

Answer 35

the proper use of body movement in daily activities to prevent problems associated with posture.

Question 36

cardiac output

Answer 36

the volume of blood pumped out of the heart each minute.

Question 37

stroke volume

Answer 37

the volume of blood pumped out of the heart’s left ventricle per contraction.