Published in EMR. Tags: obstetrics, patient assessment, secondary assessment.
Initial management of the patient will be guided by the primary survey. Generally, obstetric patients are conscious and able to communicate their problems with EMS. In order to get to the problem, a focused history and physical exam will be completed. The focused history and physical exam answers the question, “why am I here?” Despite […]
Published in EMR. Tags: obstetrics.
Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is any discharge of blood from the vagina. It can happen any time from conception (when the egg is fertilized) to the end of pregnancy. Some women have vaginal bleeding during their first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Spotting is when the patient notices a few drops of blood every now and […]
Published in EMR. Tags: anatomy, obstetrics, physiology.
The uterus is where the fetus lives The uterus is a hollow muscular organ located in the female pelvis between the bladder and rectum. The ovaries produce the eggs that travel through the fallopian tubes. Once the egg has left the ovary it can be fertilized and implant itself in the lining of the uterus. […]
Published in EMR. Tags: multi system trauma.
The problem is people with multiple injuries are really not in a position to explain what happened, even if it appears that mechanism of injury wasn’t that big of a deal. When patients have sustained multiple injuries from the same mechanism of injury, the index of suspicion for invisible life threatening injuries should be increased. […]
Published in EMR. Tags: environmental.
A drowning occurs when the patient’s airway is surrounded by a liquid that prevents them from breathing air; depending on a variety of factors, a drowning may not be lethal. Non lethal drownings are referred to as near drownings. A variety of conditions can lead to a drowning or near drowning. The patient’s physical conditioning, […]
Published in EMR. Tags: environmental.
It’s usually the same people that get heat illnesses Patients who are exposed to extreme heat or work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. Exposure to extreme heat can result in occupational illnesses and injuries. Heat stress can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes. Heat can […]
Published in EMR. Tags: environmental.
Hypothermia When exposed to cold temperatures, the body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. A body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the patient unable to think […]
Published in EMR, EMT. Tags: geriatrics, pediatrics, special considerations in trauma.
Pregnant patients When trauma strikes a pregnant woman, the potential exists for an unexpected high body count as both the mother and unborn child can die from injuries sustained from the trauma. Normally, pregnant women are transported to the labor and delivery department to see an obstetrician, but in the case of trauma from a […]
Published in EMR. Tags: soft tissue trauma.
When a foreign body finds it’s way into a patient’s eyes, the patient is in a world of pain. Objects could include dust, dirt, or chemicals. The patient will complain of pain, tearing, redness, and blurry vision. To flush the patient’s eye, the medics can get the patient to lay flat and tilt the head […]
Published in EMR. Tags: head facial neck and spine trauma, patient assessment.
The problem with fractures to the spinal column The spinal cord is an extension of the brain and forms the lower half of the central nervous system. An injury to the spinal cord offers the same level of catastrophic outcome as a head injury. The spinal cord is made of the same materials as the […]