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EMS exam > Vital signs > Flashcards

Vital signs Flashcards

1
Q

Systolic

A

Amount of pressure in your arteries when your heart beats

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2
Q

Dystolic

A

Amount of pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats

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3
Q

Hypoperfusion

A

Means blood pressure is low

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4
Q

What blood pressure sign indicates that there is not enough blood getting to the patient’s organs.

A

If our blood pressure is less than 90 systolic
Indicates hypoperfusion

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5
Q

Average pulse in an adult

A

60-100 pulse

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6
Q

What is normal for the pulse rate of an athlete

A

Can have a pulse rate of under 60 or 40-50

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7
Q

What are the reasons for a low pulse rate

A
  1. Heart block: electrical problem inside your heart
  2. Medication overdoses
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8
Q

Reasons why pulse rate could be too high

A

Fear
Exercise
Pain
Anxiety
Infection

100-150 pulse rate could be due to any one of these reasons or more

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9
Q

What would a heart rate of over 150 indicate

A

Primary heart problem

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10
Q

Respiratory rate

A

How many times a patient breaths in and out in a minute

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11
Q

What is a normal respiratory rate

A

12-20 breaths per minute

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12
Q

What respiratory rate indicates a true medical emergency

A

Breathing under 12 per minute

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13
Q

What action should you take when a patient’s respiratory rate is below 12

A

Ventilate and assist their breathing

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14
Q

What could be causes of a patient’s respiratory rate of over 20

A

Pain and anxiety

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15
Q

Pulse oximetry (SPO2)

A

Measures how well oxygen is combined with the red blood cells in your body

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16
Q

Normal pulse oximetry

A

94 to 99% is a normal range

Pediatrics could have 99%

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17
Q

What is a normal pulse oximetry to see in a pediatric

A

99-100%

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18
Q

What is a not uncommon SPO2 to see in a patient who smokes

A

94-96%

19
Q

What is not an uncommon SPO2 for patients who have COPD or CHF

A

92-94% and they are taking supplemental oxygen for their

20
Q

Blood glucose (BGL)

A

Normal blood glucose is anywhere from 70-120

21
Q

Hyperglycemia

A

Very high blood glucose levels
Over 140 mg/dl

22
Q

End Tidal CO2

A

Measuring what the patient is breathing out
Normal N Tidal CO2 is 35-45

23
Q

Hypotensive

A

Low blood pressure of below 90 systolic

24
Q

Hypertensive

A

High blood pressure

25
Q

Bradycardia

A

Slow heart rate
Below 60 BPM
Normal in athletes and only bad when they are symptomatic

26
Q

Tachycardia

A

Fast heart rate over 100
100-150 usually due to pain, anxiety, dehydration
170+ heart is life-threatening high

27
Q

Hypoventilation

A

6-8 breaths a minute

28
Q

Hyperventilation

A

Over 20 BPM
Could be someone in respiratory failure

29
Q

AVPU

A

Helps determine how responsive a person is

Alert
Verbal stimuli
Painful stimuli
Unresponsive

30
Q

Glascow Coma Scale
GCS

A

Mnemoic: EVM 456

Eye
Verbal
Motor

31
Q

What to look for in respiratory rate

A

Rate, rhythm, quality, depth

32
Q

Respiratory rate scale

A

Adults: 12-20
13-18: 12-16
8-12: 18-30
4-5: 22-34
1-3: 24-40
Infants: 30-60

33
Q

What to do when patients have low SPO2

A

Give them supplemental oxygen

34
Q

What is the blood pressure in neonates

A

80/40

35
Q

3 types of pupils

A

Normal
Constricted
Dilated

36
Q

What are we looking for in peoples

A

PEARRL

Pupils
Equal
AND
Round
Regular Size
Lightly Reactive

37
Q

What are common causes of pinpoint pupils

A

Opiate overdose
Trauma

38
Q

Common causes of dilated pupils

A

Cocaine

39
Q

Common causes of unreactive, unequal pupils

A

Neurological conditions like Strokes

40
Q

What should you do when a patient is unresponsive or has altered mental status

A

Get a blood glucose level

41
Q

How to measure blood glucose level

A

Glucometer

42
Q

Neuroexam

A

PMS

Pulse, Motor, Sensory

43
Q

What can affect pulse oximeter readings

A

Fingernail polish
Skin temperature
CO poisoning

EMS exam (14 decks)

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