The Primary Assessment, Vital Signs and Monitoring Devices Flashcards
What term is defined by the immediate sense of the patient’s degree of distress, formulated from the patient’s immediate environment, appearance, and chief complaint?
General impression
Define chief complaint.
The reason why the patient summoned EMS
Describe an EMS provider’s “sixth sense”?
Clinical judgement
What is the most reliable means of determining whether a patient has any immediately life-threatening conditions?
A systematic approach to assessment
What is a normal capillary refill time in a pediatric patient?
2 seconds
What is completed first during the primary assessment?
Forming a general impression
During the primary assessment of an unresponsive infant, which pulse should be palpated?
Brachial
What represents the correct order of assessment for the EMT during the primary assessment from start to end?
General impression, mental status, airway, breathing, circulation, patient priority
The first set of vital sign measurements obtained are often referred to as what?
Baseline vital signs
What are the vital signs that need to be recorded?
Pulse, respiration, skin color, skin temp. and condition, pupils, and blood pressure
The term cyanosis is used when the patient’s skin color is noted to be which of the following characteristics?
Blue-gray
When the EMT checks the pupils they are checking for what 3 things?
Size, equality, and reactivity
When the heart contracts and forces blood into the arteries, the pressure created is known as what?
Systolic blood pressure
Upon assessment of your patient, you notice that they have cool, sweaty skin. This finding is described as a what?
A sign
When taking blood pressure, the cuff should be inflated to what point?
20-30 mmHg beyond the point where the pulse disappears.
