Emt Chapter 8

Front 1

Accessory Muscles

Back 1

The secondary muscles of respiration. They include the neck muscles (sternocleidomastoids), the chest pectoralis major muscles, and the abdominal muscles.

Front 2

Auscultate

Back 2

To listen to sounds within an organ with a stethoscope.

Front 3

AVPU Scale

Back 3

A method of assessing the level of consciousness by determining whether the patient is Awake & Alert, responsive to Verbal stimuli or Pain, or unresponsive; used principally early in the assessment process.

Front 4

Blood Pressure

Back 4

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

Front 5

Bradycardia

Back 5

A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/minute.

Front 6

Breath Sounds

Back 6

An indication of air movements in the lungs, usually assessed with a stethoscope.

Front 7

Capillary Refill

Back 7

A test that evaluates distal circulatory system function by squeezing (blanching) blood from an area such as a nail bed and watching the speed of its return after releasing the pressure.

Front 8

Capnography

Back 8

A noninvasive method that can quickly and efficiently provide information on a patient's ventilatory status, circulation, and metabolism (by assessing CO2 level in exhaled air).

Front 9

Capnometry

Back 9

The use of a capnometer, a device that measures the amount of expired carbon dioxide.

Front 10

Carbon Dioxide

Back 10

Carbon dioxide is a component of air and typically makes up 0.3% of air at sea level. It is also a waste product exhaled during expiration by the respiratory system.

Front 11

Chief Complaint

Back 11

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

Front 12

Coagulate

Back 12

To form a clot to plug an opening in an injured blood vessel and stop bleeding.

Front 13

Colorimetric Devices

Back 13

Colorimetric or end-tidal carbon dioxide detectors are devices that use a chemical reaction to detect the amount of CO2 present in expired gases by changing colors (qualitative measurement rather than quantitative).

Front 14

Conjunctiva

Back 14

The delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the eye.

Front 15

Crepitus

Back 15

A grating or grinding sensation caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing together; also air bubbles under the skin that produce a crackling sound or crinkly feeling.

Front 16

Cyanosis

Back 16

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

Front 17

DCAP-BTLS

Back 17

A mnemonic for assessment in which each area of the body is evaluated for: Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures/Penetrations, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, and Swelling.

Front 18

Diaphoretic

Back 18

Characterized by profuse sweating.

Front 19

Diastolic Pressure

Back 19

The pressure that remains in the arteries during the relaxing phase of the heart's cycle (diastole) when the left ventricle is at rest. What you hear during measurement: pressure waves stop. Normal is generally < 80 mm Hg.

Front 20

End-tidal CO2

Back 20

The amount of carbon dioxide present in exhaled breath. The normal range is 35-45 mm Hg or 5-6% CO2.

Front 21

Focused Assessment

Back 21

A type of (secondary) physical assessment that is typically performed on patients who have sustained non-significant mechanisms of injury or on responsive medical patients. This type of examination is based on the chief complaint and focuses on one body system or part.

Front 22

Frostbite

Back 22

Damage to tissues as the result of exposure to cold; frozen or partially frozen body parts are frostbitten.

Front 23

Full-body Scan

Back 23

A systematic head-to-toe examination that is performed during the secondary assessment on a patient who has sustained a significant mechanism of injury, is unconscious or is in critical condition.

Front 24

General Impression

Back 24

The overall initial impression that determines the priority for patient care; based on the patient's surroundings, the MOI/NOI, signs and symptoms, and the chief complaint.

Front 25

Golden Period

Back 25

The time from injury to definitive care, during which treatment of shock and traumatic injuries should occur because survival potential is best.

Front 26

Guarding

Back 26

Involuntary muscle contractions (spasms) of the abdominal wall in an effort to protect an inflamed abdomen; a sign of peritonitis. Keep an eye out for it during the abdominal exam.

Front 27

History Taking

Back 27

A step within the patient assessment process that provides detail about the patient's chief complaint and an account of the patient's signs and symptoms. Related: SAMPLE & OPQRST.

Front 28

Hypertension

Back 28

Blood pressure that is above the normal range.

Front 29

Hypotension

Back 29

Blood pressure that is lower than the normal range.

Front 30

Hypothermia

Back 30

A condition in which the internal body temperature falls below 95F (35C) after exposure to a cold environment.

Front 31

Incident Command System

Back 31

A system implemented to manage disasters and mass- and multiple-casualty incidents in which section chiefs, including finance, logistics, operations, and planning report to the incident commander. Also referred to as the incident management system.

Front 32

Jaundice

Back 32

Yellow skin or sclera that is caused by liver disease or dysfunction.

Front 33

Labored Breathing

Back 33

Breathing that requires visibly increased effort; characterized by grunting, stridor, and use of accessory muscles. Also can be characterized by the tripod position, sniffing position, or nasal flaring.

Front 34

Mechanism of Injury (MOI)

Back 34

The way in which traumatic injuries occur; the forces that act on the body to cause damage.

Front 35

Nasal Flaring

Back 35

Flaring out of the nostrils, indicating that there is an airway obstruction.

Front 36

Nature of Illness (NOI)

Back 36

The general type of illness a patient is experiencing.

Front 37

OPQRST

Back 37

An abbreviation for key terms used in evaluating a patient's pain: Onset, Provocation or Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, and Timing of pain.

Front 38

Orientation

Back 38

The mental status of a patient as measured by memory of Person (name), Place (current location), Time (current year, month, and approximate date), and Event (what happened).

Front 39

Palpate

Back 39

To examine by touch.

Front 40

Paradoxical Motion

Back 40

The motion of the chest wall section that is detached in a flail chest; the motion is exactly the opposite of normal motion during breathing (i.e. in during inhalation, out during exhalation).

Front 41

Perfusion

Back 41

Circulation of blood within an organ or tissue.

Front 42

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Back 42

Clothing or specialized equipment that provides protection to the wearer.

Front 43

Pertinent Negatives

Back 43

Negative findings that warrant no care or intervention.

Front 44

Primary Assessment

Back 44

A step within the patient assessment process that identifies and initiates treatment of immediate and potential life threats.

Front 45

Pulse

Back 45

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

Front 46

Pulse Oximetry

Back 46

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

Front 47

Rales

Back 47

A crackling, rattling breath sound that signals fluid in the air spaces of the lungs; also called crackles.

Front 48

Reassessment

Back 48

A step within the patient assessment process that is performed at regular intervals during the assessment process. Its purpose is to identify and treat changes in a patient's condition. A patient in unstable condition should be reassessed every 5 minutes, whereas a patient in stable condition should be reassessed every 15 minutes.

Front 49

Responsiveness

Back 49

The way in which a patient responds to external stimuli, including verbal stimuli (sound), tactile stimuli (touch), and painful stimuli.

Front 50

Retractions

Back 50

Movements in which the skin pulls in around the ribs during inspiration.

Front 51

Rhonchi

Back 51

Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways.

Front 52

SAMPLE History

Back 52

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 53

Scene Size-Up

Back 53

A step within the patient assessment process that involves a quick assessment of the scene and the surroundings to provide information about scene safety and the mechanism of injury or nature of illness before you enter and begin patient care.

Front 54

Sclera

Back 54

The white portion of the eye; the tough outer coat that gives protection to the delicate, light sensitive inner layer.

Front 55

Secondary Assessment

Back 55

A step within the patient assessment process in which a systematic physical examination of the patient is performed. The examination may be a systematic full-body scan or a systematic assessment that focuses on a certain area or region of the body, often determined through the chief complaint.

Front 56

Shallow Respirations

Back 56

Respirations that are characterized by little movement of the chest wall (reduced tidal volume) or poor chest excursion.

Front 57

Sign

Back 57

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

Front 58

Sniffing Position

Back 58

An upright position in which the patient's head and chin are thrust slightly forward to keep the airway open.

Front 59

Spontaneous Respirations

Back 59

Breathing that occurs with no assistance.

Front 60

Standard Precautions

Back 60

Protective measures that have traditionally been developed by the CDC for use in dealing with objects, blood, body fluids, and other potential exposure risks of communicable disease.

Front 61

Stridor

Back 61

A harsh, high-pitched, crowing inspiratory sound, such as the sound often heard in acute laryngeal (upper airway) obstruction; may sound like crowing and be audible without a stethoscope.

Front 62

Subcutaneous Emphysema

Back 62

The presence of air in soft tissues, causing a characteristic crackling sensation on palpation.

Front 63

Symptom

Back 63

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

Front 64

Systolic Pressure

Back 64

The increased pressure in an artery with each contraction of the ventricles (systole). What you hear during measurement: pressure waves start (after cuff inflation stops them and then pressure is released). Normal range is 90-140 mm Hg.

Front 65

Tachycardia

Back 65

A rapid heart rate, more than 100 bpm.

Front 66

Tidal Volume

Back 66

The amount of air (in mL) that is moved in or out of the lungs during one breath.

Front 67

Triage

Back 67

The process of establishing treatment and transportation priorities according to severity of injury and medical need.

Front 68

Tripod Position

Back 68

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

Front 69

Two- to Three- Word Dyspnea

Back 69

A severe breathing problem in which a patient can speak only two to three words at a time without pausing to take a breath.

Front 70

Vasoconstriction

Back 70

Narrowing of a blood vessel.

Front 71

Vital Signs

Back 71

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