Upload
phant0m0o0o
View
4.766
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Baseline Vital Signs and SAMPLE History
Getting Started…
• It all starts with a complaint…
• Chief Complaint (C/C)• Why was EMS called?
• Other useful information• Pt. Age• Pt. Sex• Pt. Race
Baseline Vital Signs
• Measurement of vital body functions• Gives a basis for initiating care • Allows reevaluation of interventions
• Includes:• Respirations• Pulse• Blood pressure• Temperature• Pupils
Respiratory Evaluation
• Areas of assessment• Rate. Rhythm. Depth. Quality.
• Rate• Adult = 12-20 per minute• Child = 15-30 per minute• Infant -= 30-60 per minute
• Rhythm• Regular or irregular
• Depth• Tidal volume adequate or inadequate
• Amount of air breathed in/out in one ventilation• Approx 500 mL
Respiratory Evaluation cont’d.
• Quality• Breath sounds
• Present or diminished or absent• Chest expansion
• Unequal or symmetrical• Increased effort
• Accessory muscles • “Seesaw” breathing
• Infants• Nasal flaring • Retractions
• Above clavicles, between ribs• Cyanosis• Shortness of breath• Altered mental status
Accessory Muscle Use
Nasal Flaring
Retractions
Respiratory Evaluation Cont’d
• Noisy• Increase in audible sound of breathing
• Grunting• Rhythmic, deep, short and hoarse • During exhalation
• Gurgling• Air moving through water• =Fluid in upper airway
• Wheezing• High pitched “whistling” • =Narrow bronchioles (Asthma)
• Crowing/Stridor• High pitch on inspiration • = Obstruction at vocal cords/epiglottis
• Snoring• Tongue blocking airway
• Gasping• Short, rapid inspiratory phase • Assoc. with Resp. distress/failure
Respiratory Evaluation cont’d.
• Cyanosis• Blue/pale coloring of skin
• Nail beds• Lips• Eyelids
• Why is this seen in these areas first???
• Indicates poor perfusion
Pediatric Considerations
• Mouth/Nose• Smaller and easily obstructed
• Pharynx• Tongue is BIG
• Trachea• Narrower• Softer and more flexible
• Cricoid Cartilage• Less developed/Less rigid = easily kinked
• Diaphragm • Chest is soft• Depend on diaphragm to do most of the work of breathing
• Seesaw Breathing….
Respiratory Rate
• Count the # of respirations in 30 seconds and X by 2. • Try not to inform pt • They could adjust rate
Pulse Rate
• Pulse• Palpable wave of blood sent though arteries after contraction of L
ventricle • Peripheral
• Radial• Brachial• Posterior tibial• Dorsalis pedis
• Central• Carotid • Femoral
Pulse Rate
• Evaluation• Radial pulse
• ALL pt 1 y/o +
• Brachial pulse• pt less than 1 y/o
• If unresponsive OR peripheral pulse isn't palpable • Carotid pulse• NEVER on both sides
• Use index and middle finger• NO THUMBS
Pulse Rate
• Evaluation• Depress artery and count
rate for 30 seconds and X by 2
• OR 15 seconds and X by 4
• Less accurate
• Range• Infant (Birth - 1 year)
• 100-160• Child (2-10 y/o)
• 70-150• Child (12 y/o+) Adult
• 60-100
Perfusion/Skin
• Clues to perfusion and oxygenation• Components
• Color• Temp• Moisture• Capillary Refill
Skin Color
• Locations of assessment• Nail beds, oral mucosa, conjunctiva• Pediatric
• Palms of hand/Sole of feet• Normal = Pink• Abnormal
• Pale• Poor Perfusion
• Cyanotic• Blue/grey= Poor oxygenation/perfusion
• Flushed• Heat or CO exposure
• Jaundiced • Liver/Gallbladder problems
Baseline Vital Signs Perfusion
Temperature
• Place back of gloved hand on pt skin• Normal = Warm• Abnormal
• Hot• Fever/Heat exposure
• Cool• Poor perfusion/Cold exposure
• Cold• Extreme cold exposure• Excessively dead…
• Also check for moisture• Diaphoresis or extremely dry
Capillary Refill
• Evaluation• Press on pt nail bed until it
is blanched/white• Release and count time
until pink returns
• Normal• 2 seconds or less
• Abnormal• More than 2 seconds
The Circulatory System Physiology
Blood Pressure
• Blood pressure• Force exerted from blood on walls of
vessels • Phases of Cardiac Cycle
• Systolic• Pressure against the walls when the L
ventricle contracts• HIGH PRESSURE
• Diastolic • Pressure against the walls when the L
ventricle relaxes• Low pressure
Auscultating Blood Pressure
• Auscultation• Listens to systolic/diastolic sounds as artery goes from
collapsed to open • How to…
• Place cuff just above elbow• Use marking, line up with brachial artery• Locate brachial pulse and place your stethoscope• Close valve • Inflate until needle stops undulating as pressure increases
(150-220 mmHg)• Release pressure until you hear a heartbeat =Systolic• Continue until you hear no sound = Diastolic
Blood Pressure Ranges
• Normal ranges• Systolic = 100 + pt age (140-150mmHg)• Diastolic= 65-90 mmHg• Textbook perfect = 120/80
• Expressed as:• Systolic/Diastolic
• Asses in ALL pt 3 y/o +
Palpating Blood Pressure
• How to…• Place B/P cuff as before• Palpate radial pulse• Inflate cuff as normal• Deflate cuff until you feel the radial artery• Gives you ONLY the systolic pressure
• Why do it?• Unable to obtain brachial b/p
• Expressed as • 120/palp or 120/p
Pupils
• Why?• Easy way to assess
neural status
• How?• Briefly shine a light in the
pt eyes
• Evaluation:• Diameter• Reactivity to light• Equal size
Pupils PERRL
• Normal• PERRL• “Pupils Equal, Round & Reactive to light”
• Abnormal• Constricted/pinpoint
• Overdose (opiate i.e. Heroine)• Dilated
• Severe lack of O2 = Hypoxia• Brain Death• Toxic substances
• Unequal• Brain Injury
Dilated
Constricted
Unequal
How often to assess
• Stable Pt• Every 15 min
• Unstable Pt• Every 5 min
• Following ANY medical intervention
SAMPLE History
• Sings/Symptoms• Sign
• Any condition the EMT sees
• Symptom• Any condition described
by the pt
SAMPLE History
• Allergies• Medications• Food• Environmental
SAMPLE History
• Medications• Prescription
• Current• Recent• Birth control?
• Non-Prescription• Current• Recent
SAMPLE History
• Past Pertinent Medical History• Medical• Surgical• Trauma
SAMPLE History
• Last oral intake• Time• Quantity
SAMPLE History
• Events leading to injury/illness• Example
• Pt was dizzy then fell• Medical – Trauma
• Pt fell and then was dizzy• Trauma- Medical
That does it… Have a GREAT night!