Overview of Medical Emergencies Assessment

Mar 20, 2025

Chapter 15: Medical Overview of Emergency Care

Introduction

  • Focus on assessment techniques for patients with medical complaints.
  • Patients may experience medical emergencies, trauma emergencies, or both.
    • Trauma Emergencies: Result from physical forces.
    • Medical Emergencies: Result from illnesses or conditions caused by disease.

Types of Medical Emergencies

  • Respiratory Emergencies: Breathing difficulties or inadequate oxygen supply to tissues.
  • Cardiovascular Emergencies: Conditions affecting the circulatory system.
  • Neurological Emergencies: Involves the brain.
  • Gastrointestinal Conditions: Appendicitis, diverticulitis, pancreatitis.
  • Urologic Emergencies: Kidney stones.
  • Endocrine Emergencies: Complications of diabetes.
  • Hematologic Emergencies: Sickle cell disease, blood clotting disorders.
  • Immunologic Emergencies: Body’s response to foreign substances.
  • Toxicological Emergencies: Poisoning and substance abuse.
  • Gynaecological Conditions: Female reproductive organs.

Patient Assessment

  • Similar to trauma assessment but focuses on nature of illness, symptoms, and chief complaint.
  • Establish an accurate medical history and avoid tunnel vision.
  • Maintain professional demeanor, avoid assumptions.

Scene Size-Up

  • Ensure safety for crew and patient.
  • Use standard precautions.
  • Determine number of patients and need for additional help.

Primary Assessment

  • Develop general impression.
  • Rapid exam to identify life threats.
  • Determine consciousness level using AVPU scale.
  • Focus on Airway, Breathing, Circulation, and Decision:
    • Airway & Breathing: Ensure airways are open, check respiratory rate, depth, and quality.
    • Circulation: Check pulse and skin condition.
    • Transport Decision: Rapid transport for serious conditions.

History Taking

  • Gather thorough history using SAMPLE (Signs & Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, Events leading up) and OPQRST (Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time).

Secondary Assessment

  • May occur on scene or en route.
  • Conduct full-body assessment for unconscious patients.
  • Examine head, neck, chest, abdomen, legs, arms, and back.

Vital Signs

  • Check pulse, respirations, blood pressure.
  • Consider blood glucose levels and pulse oximetry.

Reassessment

  • Continuously reassess primary assessment and vital signs.
  • Document changes and treatments.

Transport and Destination

  • Treatment often beyond pre-hospital care.
  • Requires rapid transport if life-threatening.
  • Types of transport: Ground (EMT and paramedics) and Air (Critical care professionals).
  • Destination usually closest capable hospital.

Infectious Diseases

General Assessment

  • Scene size-up and standard precautions.
  • Gather history using OPQRST and SAMPLE.

General Management

  • Focus on life-threatening conditions.
  • Use standard precautions.
  • Understand epidemic vs pandemic.

Specific Diseases

  • Influenza: Transmitted via nasal secretions and droplets.
  • Herpes Simplex: Causes blisters; transmitted through close contact.
  • HIV: Potentially hazardous, but not easily transmitted.
  • Hepatitis: Inflammation of liver; different types have different transmission modes.
  • Meningitis: Inflammation of brain and spinal cord coverings.
  • Tuberculosis: Chronic bacterial lung disease.
  • Whooping Cough (Pertussis): Airborne bacterial infection.
  • MRSA: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
  • COVID-19: Virus causing respiratory issues.
  • MERS-CoV: Middle Eastern virus.
  • Ebola: High fatality virus with global impact.

Travel Medicine

  • Consider recent travel in diagnosis.
  • Ask about vaccinations, exposure, and food/water sources.

Conclusion

  • Assessment and treatment of medical patients can be challenging due to non-apparent symptoms.
  • Remain calm, use assessment skills, and transport safely.

Review Questions

  • Types of emergencies (e.g., seizure as neurological).
  • Importance of avoiding tunnel vision.
  • Scene time considerations.
  • Transport decisions based on severity.

Note: Refer to emergency medical protocols and guidelines for specific procedures and PPE requirements.