Emergency Management and First Aid Flashcards

Which group of signs best suggests a patient is going into hypovolemic shock?

Answer: Rapid, weak pulse, cool clammy skin, and falling blood pressure

Blood loss makes the body speed up the heart and constrict peripheral vessels, giving a rapid weak pulse, pale clammy skin, and hypotension.

A patient develops hives, wheezing, and throat swelling minutes after an injection. What medication is the first-line treatment?

Answer: Epinephrine intramuscularly into the anterolateral thigh

Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis because it reverses airway swelling and hypotension; antihistamines only help afterward.

Direct pressure fails to control life-threatening bleeding from a leg wound. What is the next appropriate step?

Answer: Apply a tourniquet 2-3 inches above the wound and note the time applied

A tourniquet placed 2-3 inches above the wound (not over a joint) is the next step for uncontrolled limb bleeding, and the time it was applied must be recorded.

What is the correct first aid for a patient with an ordinary nosebleed?

Answer: Sit the patient up, lean forward, and pinch the soft part of the nose for 10-15 minutes

Leaning forward stops blood from being swallowed or aspirated, and steady pressure on the soft part of the nose lets a clot form.

A known diabetic patient is shaky, sweaty, and confused but can still swallow. What should the medical assistant give first?

Answer: About 15 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate such as juice or glucose tablets

These are signs of hypoglycemia, and the 15-15 rule calls for 15 g of fast-acting sugar, then rechecking glucose in 15 minutes.

In the FAST stroke assessment, what does the letter "T" stand for?

Answer: Time to call 911 and note when symptoms began

"T" stands for Time, meaning call EMS right away and record when symptoms started, since this decides whether clot-busting treatment is possible.

A patient in the waiting room has a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Which action is appropriate?

Answer: Protect the head, move nearby objects away, and time the seizure

During a seizure, protect the patient from injury, never put anything in the mouth, and time it; call 911 if it lasts longer than 5 minutes.