What is the primary focus of patient care and packaging in rescue?
Timely adequate first aid, timely patient extrication, safe and efficient rescue set up for the team
What are the three key elements to balance when approaching a casualty?
- Timely, adequate, and appropriate patient care
- Expediting transport to definitive medical care
- Minimizing risk for both the casualty and the rescue team.
What determines the urgency level for a rescue incident?
The initial assessment and ongoing reassessment of the casualty.
True or False: The priority in any rescue should always be the safety of the rescue team.
True.
In the absence of Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) resources, what two options might a rescuer decide between?
- Stay and play
- Load and go.
Under what condition does a ‘load and go’ approach become a clinical priority?
When the casualty is unconscious and suspended.
What is a realistic goal when providing care to a casualty during evacuation?
To adequately care for the patient without delaying or significantly complicating the evacuation.
What are some environmental variables that can affect patient care and packaging?
- Access to medical resources
- Terrain challenges
- Delays in extrication and medical response.
What types of injuries are commonly sustained in climbing accidents?
- Pelvis injuries
- Chest injuries.
What is the leading cause of fatalities from falls in urban settings?
Falls from roofs and ladders.
What does the acronym DRSABCDEF stand for in the context of patient assessment?
Danger, Response and Remote Aid, Severe bleeding, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Environment & Exposure, and Fractures
What should be prioritized to eliminate hazards during a rescue?
The safety of rescuers.
What is the AVPU scale used for?
To detect altered mental status in a casualty.
What is Remote Assessment Methodology (RAM)?
A concept where the rescuer assesses the situation remotely to determine the needs of the casualty while minimizing their own risk.
What is surrogate care in a rescue context?
Medical aid provided by proxy or by a surrogate provider.
What should be done first if a life-threatening external haemorrhage exists?
Control it immediately with direct pressure, emergency bandages, or tourniquets.
What are some abnormal signs and symptoms indicating airway obstruction?
- Cyanosis
- Blood from airway
- Visible swelling of the tongue, pharynx, or neck.
What should be done to manage an obstructed airway?
Jaw thrust and jaw support while limiting flexion of the C-spine.
What indicates abnormal breathing in a casualty?
- Anxious appearance
- Difficult, short sentences
- Ventilation rate less than 8 or greater than 18.
What is the second leading cause of death after traumatic brain injury?
Severe haemorrhage, both internal and external.
What should be done if a casualty presents with a significant pelvic fracture?
Use pelvic binders to close the pelvic ring and address internal haemorrhage.
What are some signs of traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
- Obvious trauma to the head
- Blood from nose/ears
- Altered level of consciousness.
What is the recommended intervention for suspected TBI?
Early administration of oxygen therapy.
What are some abnormal signs and symptoms of head injury?
• obvious trauma, abrasions, lacerations, or deformity to the head/skull
• blood from nose/ears
• seizures/convulsions
• altered level of consciousness/behavioural changes
• pupil changes
