Vital Signs (In depth) Flashcards
Vital signs emt measures
Respiration
Pulse
Skin
Pupils
Blood pressure
Pulse oximetry
What are you looking for when taking respiratory vital sign
Rate
Quality
rhythm
what should you base a patients normal Respiratory on?
How the patient presents
What respiratory rate should you begin to provide ventilation
(adult, Infant)
Adult - over 30
Infant - Over 60
not sustainable
To fast for good Tidal volume
Normal respiration signs
at least 1 inch of chest rise
no accessory muscles
normal rate
Exhale 2x as long as inhale
Shallow resporation signs
and treatment
slight chest rise
abnormal chest expansion
PPV by bvm or just PPV
Labored resporation signs
Grunting or stridor
accessory muscles
nasal flaring
Signs of struggle to inhale vs. exhale
Inhale = Accessory muscles
Exhale = abdominal
Noisy resperation signs
on auscultation
wheezing, rhonchi, and crackles (rales).
Trauma patient resperation assessment
looking for
sounds or not
medical patient resperation assessment
looking for
abnormal sounds
what age do you check brachial pulse
1 year or younger
Pulse to assess when pt is unresponsive
carotid and radial at same time
How to take accurate pulse
pt sitting/laying down
irregular for full minute
Pulse description meaning
Rapid, regular, full
Exertion, fright, fever, high blood pressure, or very early stage of blood loss
Pulse description meaning
Rapid, regular, and thready
Reliable sign of shock, often evident in early stage of blood loss
Pulse description meaning
Slow
Head injury
barbiturate/narcotic use
some poisons
possible cardiac problem
hypothyroidism
Pulse description meaning
No pulse
Cardiac arrest
Profund hypotension
What to record for pulse quality
strong
weak
reggular
irregular
pulses paradoxis
decrease in pulse strength during inhalation
Report this to hospital