Emt-B Ch.5-Baseline Vital Signs & Sample History

Front 1

Auscultation

Back 1

A method of listening to sounds within an organ with a stethoscope.

Front 2

AVPU scale

Back 2

A method of assessing level of consiousness by determining whether the patient is awake and alert, responsive to verbal stimuli or pain, or unresponsive; used principally early in the assessment.

Front 3

Blood pressure (BP)

Back 3

The pressure of circulating blood against the walls of the arteries.

Front 4

Bradycardia

Back 4

Slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min.

Front 5

Capillary refill

Back 5

The ability of the circulatory system to restore blood to the capillary system; evaluated by using a simple test.

Front 6

Chief complaint

Back 6

The reason a patient called for help. Also, the response to questions such as "What's wrong?" or "What happened?"

Front 7

Conjunctiva

Back 7

The delicate membrane lining the eyelids and covering the explosed surface of the eye.

Front 8

Cyanosis

Back 8

A bluish-gray skin color that is caused by reduced levels of oxygen in the blood.

Front 9

Diaphoretic

Back 9

Characterized by profuse sweating.

Front 10

Diastolic pressure

Back 10

The pressure that remains in the arteries during the relaxing phase of the heart's cycle (diastole) when the left ventricle is at rest.

Front 11

Hypertension

Back 11

Blood pressure that is higher than the normal range.

Front 12

Hypotension

Back 12

Blood pressure that is lower than the normal range.

Front 13

Jaundice

Back 13

A yellow skin or sclera color that is caused by liver disease or dysfunction.

Front 14

Labored breathing

Back 14

Breathing that requires visibly increased effort; characterized by grunting, stridor, and use of accessory muscles.

Front 15

OPQRST

Back 15

An abbreviation for key terms used in evaluating a patient's signs and symptoms: onset, provocation or palliation, quality, region/radiation, severity, and timing of pain.

Front 16

Perfusion

Back 16

Circulation of blood within an organ or tissue.

Front 17

Pulse

Back 17

The pressure wave that occurs as each heart-beat causes a surge in the blood circulating through the arteries.

Front 18

Pulse oximetry

Back 18

An assessment tool that measures oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the capillary beds.

Front 19

SAMPLE history

Back 19

A brief history of a patient's condition to determine signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent past history, last oral intake, and events leading to the injury or illness.

Front 20

Sclera

Back 20

The white portion of the eye.

Front 21

Signs

Back 21

Objective findings that can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, or measured.

Front 22

Sniffing position

Back 22

An usually upright position in which occurs with no assistance.

Front 23

Stridor

Back 23

A harsh, high-pitched, crowing inspiratory sounds, such as the sound often heard in acute laryngeal (upper airway) obstruction.

Front 24

Symptoms

Back 24

Subjective findings that the patient feels but that can be identified only by the patient.

Front 25

Systolic pressure

Back 25

The increased pressure along an artery with each contraction (systole) of the ventricles.

Front 26

Tachycardia

Back 26

Rapid heart rhythm, more than 100 beats/min.

Front 27

Tidal volume

Back 27

The amount of air that is exchanged with each breath.

Front 28

Tripod position

Back 28

An upright position in which the patient leans forward onto two arms stretched forward and thrusts the head and chin forward.

Front 29

Vasoconstriction

Back 29

Narrowing of a blood vessel.

Front 30

Vital signs

Back 30

The key signs that are used to evaluate the patient's overall condition, including respirations, pulse, blood pressure, level of consciousness, and skin characteristics.