EMR

1. Caring for Common
Medical Emergencies
16

2. Topics
Medical Emergencies
Evaluating Mental Status
Overdose and Poisoning
Behavioral Emergencies

3. MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

4. Medical Emergencies
• Assessment
 Take appropriate BSI precautions.
 Complete a scene size-up.
 Perform primary assessment.
 Perform secondary assessment.
 Complete reassessments.
 Comfort and reassure patient while
awaiting additional EMS resources.

5. EVALUATING MENTAL STATUS

6. Evaluating Mental Status
• Normal mental status
 Complete and accurate awareness of
one's surroundings
• Person
• Place
• Time
• Events

7. Evaluating Mental Status
• Altered mental status (AMS)
 Decreased patient alertness and
responsiveness to surroundings
• Confusion
• Slow to respond

8. Figure 16.1 A patient with an altered mental status is often confused and not aware of his surroundings.

9. Figure 16.3 The Glasgow Coma Scale.

10. Figure 16.2 Common causes of an altered mental status.

11. Figure 16.4 Identifying the exact cause of altered mental status can be very difficult.

12. Evaluating Mental Status
• Signs and Symptoms of AMS
 Confusion
 Seizures
 Inappropriate behavior
 Lack of awareness of surroundings
 Combativeness
 Syncope
• Collapse or fainting
 Unresponsiveness

13. Evaluating Mental Status
• Assessing the Patient
 Focus on observation.
 Obtain complete medical history.
• Baseline mental status
 Use AVPU scale
• Alert
• Verbal
• Painful
• Unresponsive

14. Evaluating Mental Status
• General treatment of AMS
 BSI
 airway and breathing.
 oxygen as per local protocols.
 vital signs.
continued on next slide

15. SEIZURES
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18. CVA
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19. Altered Mental Status—Stroke: Cerebrovascular Accident

21. Figure 16.6 A patient suffering a stroke may have facial droop on one side or the other.
(© Michal Heron)

22. DIABETES

28. OVERDOSE AND POISONING

29. Table 16.2 Commonly Abused Substances
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30. Table 16.2 (continued) Commonly Abused
Substances
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31. Table 16.2 (continued) Commonly Abused
Substances

44. Overdose and Poisoning
• Routes of Exposure
 Ingestion
 Inhalation
 Absorption
 Injection

45. Figure 16.8 The American Association of Poison Control Centers maintains an easy-to-remember nationwide
800 number.

47. Figure 16.9 Poisons come in colorful containers that are often appealing to children.

49. Overdose and Poisoning
• Inhaled Poisons
 Carbon monoxide
• Takes the place of oxygen in the blood
stream.
• Signs and symptoms
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Coma
continued on next slide

51. Overdose and Poisoning
• Absorbed Poisons
 Signs and Symptoms
• Skin reactions
• Mild irritations to severe burns
• Hives
• Itching
• Eye irritation
• Headache
• Increased skin temperature
continued on next slide

52. Overdose and Poisoning
• Injected Poisons
 Sources
• Insect stings
• Spider bites
• Stings from marine life
• Snakebites
• Hypodermic needle
• Drug overdose or contamination
continued on next slide

53. ALLERGIC REACTION
continued on next slide

54. BEHAVIORAL EMERGENCIES

55. Figure 16.11 Encourage the emotionally distraught patient to tell you what is troubling her.

56. Figure 16.12 Law enforcement officers may be needed to approach and control a patient experiencing a
behavioral emergency.

57. Figure 16.13 Use restraint only as a last resort.