Cardiovascular & Respiratory Protocols Flashcards

An EMD dispatcher receives a call about a patient on beta-blocker medication having chest pain with a heart rate of 48. This heart rate is best described as:

Answer: Bradycardia that may be medication-related

Beta-blockers reduce heart rate, and a rate of 48 bpm represents bradycardia that may be a known pharmacological effect.

During a telephone-assisted CPR call, the caller says the patient 'took a breath.' The EMD should instruct the caller to:

Answer: Continue compressions unless the patient is fully conscious and breathing normally

Agonal breathing is common in cardiac arrest and should not be mistaken for effective respiration; compressions continue until the patient is clearly responsive and breathing normally.

A caller reports that a 70-year-old woman is having difficulty breathing and her lips are turning blue. The blue discoloration is called:

Answer: Cyanosis

Cyanosis is the bluish discoloration of skin and mucous membranes caused by hypoxia and reduced oxygen saturation.

In MPDS Protocol 11 (Choking), an adult patient who can speak in full sentences should be classified as:

Answer: Partial airway obstruction — monitor and send appropriate response

The ability to speak indicates partial obstruction with air movement; complete obstruction presents with inability to speak, cough, or breathe.

Which EMD protocol key question best identifies a patient experiencing acute pulmonary edema?

Answer: Is the patient coughing up pink or frothy sputum?

Pink, frothy sputum is a hallmark sign of pulmonary edema caused by fluid leaking into the alveoli from elevated pulmonary pressures.

When a caller cannot determine if a patient is breathing, the EMD should instruct them to look for all of the following EXCEPT:

Answer: Capillary refill time greater than 2 seconds

Capillary refill assessment is a clinical test performed by responders on scene, not something an untrained bystander can reliably assess over the phone.

A caller reports a patient with known COPD who is breathing but using accessory muscles and tripod positioning. This posture indicates:

Answer: Severe respiratory distress with maximized breathing effort

Tripod positioning (leaning forward on arms) allows accessory muscles to assist breathing and signals severe respiratory distress.