1. Medical Emergencies
EMT 100

2. Heart Attack – Myocardial Infarction

3. Atherosclerosis – plaque buildup & thrombosis

4. Signs & Symptoms Chest pain Signs of shock Denial
Constant pressure
May radiate
Signs of shock
Denial
Feeling of impending doom
Angina Pectoris
Signs & symptoms without permanent damage to myocardium
“practice heart attack”
Signs & symptoms usually start to improve after a few minutes of rest
If in doubt, consider it a heart attack

5. Treatment Have patient rest Pain meds ACTIVATE EMS! Sitting position
Loosen clothing around neck
Pain meds
ACTIVATE EMS!

6. Atherosclerosis is again the major cause!
Stroke – Brain Attack
Atherosclerosis is again the major cause!

7. Vessel(s) become occluded due to plaque buildup or thrombosis
Or, brittle vessels rupture

8. Signs & Symptoms (like a head injury)

9. Treatment If conscious and good airway control:
Rest in a sitting position
Reassure
Activate EMS
If unconscious or poor airway:
Recovery position with weak/paralyzed side down
Reassure
Activate EMS

10. Diabetes – poor utilization/regulation of blood sugar (glucose)
Problem is with insulin utilization and production

11. Complications: high blood sugar (Diabetic Coma)
Too much carbohydrate intake or not enough insulin and/or other meds
Develops gradually
May be how patient is initially diagnosed
Maintain ABC’s and activate EMS

12. Complications: low blood sugar (Insulin Shock)
Too much insulin/other meds or too little carbohydrate intake
Develops very rapidly
Can be very damaging to brain cells
If conscious, give sugar
Unconscious-ABC’s and EMS

13. Asthma – transient inflammation of the airways
Often triggered by allergy
Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
Wheezing
Coughing

14. Treatment Have patient sit up and rest Get patient’s meds
If not responding, activate EMS

15. Hyperventilation – exhaling too much CO2
May be caused by physical or emotional stress
Patient complains of:
Inability to catch breath
Tightness in chest
Tingly sensation in hands and feet
Lightheaded/dizzy
May lose consciousness
Have patient slow breathing by coaching them
Medical direction may have them “rebreathe”
May need EMS

16. Grand Mal Seizures (Tonic-Clonic)
Head injury
Stroke
Brain lesion
Infection
High temperature (febrile)
Electrolyte imbalance
Hypoglycemia
Sleep deprivation
Hypoxia
Epileptogenic tissue (Epilepsy)

17. Grand Mal Seizure Phases
Tonic
Clonic
Postictal
- dazed and confused
- incontinence
- N & V

18. Treatment during seizure
Tonic phase:
Help down if possible
Nothing else! Do not force anything in patient’s mouth!
Clonic phase
If jerking not too severe, place patient on side
Prevent injury – move objects or pad the area
Never try to restrain the movements!
Postictal
ABC’s
Reassure
EMS if clonic goes back to tonic

19. Drug OD
Maintain ABC’s
Activate EMS
Watch your back!

20. Communicable (Infectious) Diseases
Diseases caused by microbes, ie bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungus, etc

21. Transmission: Direct Contact
Body fluids

22. Transmission: Indirect Contact
People or objects who come in contact with microbe and then spread it to others

23. Transmission: Droplets (Airborne)
Coughs, Sneezes, etc

24. Prevention and Protection
Frequent handwashing
Barriers
Gloves
Mask
Eyewear
Gowns
Don’t reuse anything between patients without cleaning or replacing
Maintain your own health
Rest
Exercise
Nutrition
Immunizations!

25. Let’s hit the lab!