Medicine > Basic Emergency Care > Flashcards

Basic Emergency Care Flashcards

(44 cards)

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1
Q

What does DRS ABCDE stand for?

A

D dangers/ Safety & Cause
R response
S shout for help

A airway control with c-spine protection
B breathing and oxygenation
C circulation and control of haemorrhage
D disability of the CNS
E exposure of the whole of the body & prevention
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2
Q

What is the acronym used for level of response?

A

AVPU

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3
Q

What does AVPU stand for?

A

A alert
V voice
P pain
U unresponsive

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4
Q

What are the levels of voice response? (4)

A
  • Confused
  • Inappropriate words
  • Utter Sounds
  • No verbal response
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5
Q

Whatare the different levels of pain response? (2)

A
  • Localises Pain

* Responds only

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6
Q

What are the causes of airway restriction? (7)

A
  • Decreased level of consciousness (LOC)
  • Body Fluid
  • Foreign body
  • Inflammation
  • Infection
  • Trauma
  • Spasm
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7
Q

What would you look at on assessing the airway? (3)

A
  • Unresponsive
  • Use of accessory muscles
  • See-saw respiratory pattern
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8
Q

What would you listen for on assessing the airway? (4)

A
  • Snoring
  • gurgling
  • wheeze
  • stridor
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9
Q

How would you intervene after assessing the airway? (6)

If to conscious and no gag reflex

A
  • Head tilt chin lift
  • Jaw thrust
  • Suction
  • Oral airways
  • Nasal airways
  • I-gel
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10
Q

Once the airway is opened what oxygen sats would you aim for in patients without COPD and how would you achieve this? (3)

A

Give 15 litres of oxygen via a non-rebreathing mask, aiming for sats between 94-98%

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11
Q

What would you do to treat COPD patients and what sats are you aiming for?

A

For COPD patients reassess after ABCDE has been complete & keep sats 88-92%

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12
Q

What are the causes of laboured breathing?

A
  • Decreased LOC
  • Resp depressions
  • Muscle weakness
  • Exhaustion
  • Asthma
  • COPD
  • Infection
  • Pulmonary oedema
  • Pulmonary embolus
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13
Q

What would you look for on assessment of breathing? (5)

A
  • Rate (<10 or >20)
  • Symmetry
  • Effort
  • SpO2
  • Colour (cyanosis)
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14
Q

What would you listen for on assessment of breathing?

A
  • Talking- Sentences, phrases, words

* Auscultation- wheeze, silent chest, added sounds

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15
Q

What would you feel for on assessment of breathing?(2)

A
  • Chest expansion

* Percussion

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16
Q

How would you intervene if breathing is laboured? (3)

A

•Consider ventilation with bag/valve/mask if resp rate less than 10
•Position upright is struggling to breathe
•Specific Treatment
i.e. β agonist (Salbutamol inhaler for severe asthma)

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17
Q

How would you assess a patents circulation? (5)

A
  • Look at colour
  • Feel peripheries
  • Pulse
  • Capillary refill time
  • blood pressure
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18
Q

What are the symptoms of Circulatory shock? (inadequate tissue perfusion) (3)

Study These Flashcards
A 
•Loss of blood volume (hypovolaemia)
•Pump failure
(cardiac causes)
•Vasodilation
(sepsis, anaphylaxis)
19
Q

How would you intervene if your patient has circulatory shock? (8)

Study These Flashcards
A
  • ABC
  • Position supine with legs raised (left lateral tilt in pregnancy)
  • IV access- 16G (if trained)
  • SpO2 monitoring if available
  • Keep the patient warm
  • Loosen tight clothing
  • Reassure
  • Help
20
Q

What are the causes of disability of the CNS? (6)

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Inadequate perfusion of the brain
  • Sedative side effects of drugs
  • Low Blood sugar
  • Toxins and poisons
  • Stroke
  • Epilepsy
21
Q

How would you assess a patient who you believe has disability? (5)

Study These Flashcards
A 
• AVPU (or GCS)
– Alert, responds to Voice, to Pain, Unresponsive
• Pupil size/response
• Posture
• Blood Sugar Monitoring (BM)
• Check drugs you've given
22
Q

How would you intervene with a disabled patient? (6)

Study These Flashcards
A

• Optimise airway, breathing & circulation
• Recovery position
• Treat underlying cause
• Treat low BM
– Sugary drinks, oral gel, Glucogon injection
• Control seizures, buccal Midazolam
• 9-999

23
Q

What would you examine for on exposure? (3+)

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Haemorrhage (inc concealed)
  • rashes
  • swelling
24
Q

What would you do while exposing the patient? (3)

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Keep warm
  • Maintain dignity
  • Monitor Vital signs regularly
25
What will you explain on handover of the patient? (3)
• What happened SBAR Situation, Brief history, Assessment, recommendation • What you found on ABCDE and AMPLE • What you have done
26
What are the signs and symptoms of a fracture? (5)
* Visible Fracture. * Deformity * Pain * Swelling * Discoloration.
27
How would you manage a patient with a fracture? (8)
* ABCDE * Immobilisation of the affected area * Get Help! * Keep patient still support the injury * Arm fractures a sling can be made * Splints to support and immobilise * Openfractures-controlthebleeding * Monitor limb circulation
28
What is a colles fracture?
It is a distal fracture of the radius in the forearm, with dorsal (posterior) displacement of the wrist.
29
What are the three classifications of a burn?
1. Superficial burns 2. partial thickness burns 3. full-thickness burns
30
How would you manage burns and scalds? (5)
``` •Monitor ABC as SHOCK likely •Cool running water for 10 mins (has cooling affects, stops burning process) •remove clothing and jewellery (if able) •burnt are should be covered •airway burns / smoke inhalation ```
31
What are the four ways poison can enter the body?
* inhalation through the lungs * absorption through the skin * ingestion through the mouth * injection
32
How would you manage a poisoned patient? (8)
* ABC and medical help/ambulance * Find out the cause of poisoning * If poison absorbed through skin remove all clothing and irrigate * Collect omitted material, medications * Get time of poison ingestion * Find out how much has been taken * Rinse mouth * DO NOT: make the casualty vomit or give fluid (in general)
33
How would you control a haemorrhage? (5)
* Position casualty * expose wound and check for foreign body * pressure applied followed by firm dressing x2 * elevate limb if possible * tourniquets (if trained)
34
What are the symptoms of shock?(8)
* Nausea and vomitting * Thirst * Rapid breathing * Sweating * Fast and weak pulse * Pale cold and clammy skin * Reduces consciousness * Confusion and anxiety
35
What are the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis? (9)
* ABCDE * collapse and unconsciousness * Swelling of throat and mouth * difficulty breathing * alterations in heart rate * drop in blood pressure * abdominal pain, nausea and vomitting * sense of impending doom * nettle rash (hives) urticarial rash
36
How would you treat anaphylaxis? (6)
* Remove source (trigger) of reaction * If life threatening complications 999 * Oxygen if needed * Position patient that most relieves any breathlessness. * Raise legs if possible. * Administer the auto-injector if they have one or 500mcg Adrenaline IM repeat every 5 mins if needed.
37
How would you treat an epileptic patient? (7)
* Maintain airway * If possible try to ease fall. * Loosen tight clothing. * If unconscious position in ???????? * Look for med alert tag * Monitor time of seizure if more than 5 minutes or first seizure need 999 * Do not: put anything in the mouth.
38
What are the symptoms of hypoglycaemia? (10)
* Shaking * Sweating * Anxious * Dizziness * Hunger * Fast heartbeat * Impaired vision * Weakness, fatigue * Headache * Irritable
39
What are the symptoms of hyperglycaemia?(7)
* Extreme thirst * Frequent urination * Dry skin * Hunger * Blurred vision * Drowsiness * Nausea
40
How would you treat hypoglycaemia?
With glucose or glucagon.
41
How would you treat hyperglycaemia?
Treat for shock/dehydration
42
What are the signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndrome? (7)
* Collapse, often without any warning * Breathlessness and blueness (cyanosis) * Faintness or dizziness * Pale, cold and clammy skin * A rapid, weak, or irregular pulse * Nausea and/or vomiting. * Have a sense of impending doom
43
How would you manage a patient symptomatic of acute coronary syndrome? (9)
* ABCDE * 999 for an ambulance * Loosen clothing * Sit in W position * Oxygen if breathless * GTN spray help them to take it. * Aspirin (300mg) tablet * Monitor and record vital signs * Reassure and rest and keep calm
44
What does MONA stand for and what is it used for?
``` Used for suspected MI early treatment Morphine analgesia Oxygen (high flow) Nitroglycerin (sublingual) Aspirin 300mg ```
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