PHECC EMT flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Adult compression rate

Compress the adult chest at 100-120 per minute with a depth of 5-6 cm, allowing full recoil between compressions.

Compression-ventilation ratio

For adult one- or two-rescuer CPR, deliver 30 compressions to 2 ventilations, pausing minimally for ventilations.

Defibrillation timing

For VF or pulseless VT, defibrillate as soon as the device is ready and resume compressions immediately after the shock.

Adrenaline in arrest

Give adrenaline 1 mg IV/IO every 3-5 minutes during adult cardiac arrest, following the local resuscitation algorithm.

Agonal gasps

Slow, irregular, gasping breaths in a pulseless patient are not effective breathing and indicate cardiac arrest requiring compressions.

Atropine for bradycardia

In symptomatic bradycardia with adverse signs, atropine 0.5 mg IV is first-line, repeated up to a total of 3 mg.

Oropharyngeal airway sizing

Measure an OPA from the corner of the mouth to the angle of the jaw; use only in patients without a gag reflex.

Nasopharyngeal airway caution

Avoid a nasopharyngeal airway when basal skull fracture or severe mid-face trauma is suspected because of intracranial placement risk.

Normal adult respiratory rate

A normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute; rates outside this range signal respiratory compromise.

Oxygen saturation target

For most acutely ill adults, titrate oxygen to a saturation of 94-98%, avoiding unnecessary high-flow oxygen.

Tension pneumothorax action

Suspected tension pneumothorax with severe distress and haemodynamic compromise requires urgent needle decompression followed by rapid transport.

Tourniquet indication

Apply a tourniquet for life-threatening limb bleeding when direct pressure fails or the wound is not compressible.

Pelvic binder placement

For a suspected unstable pelvic fracture, apply a pelvic binder at the level of the greater trochanters to reduce bleeding.

Rule of nines adult

Adult burn estimate: each arm 9%, each leg 18%, anterior trunk 18%, posterior trunk 18%, head 9%, perineum 1%.

The 5 Ps of fracture

Assess pain, pallor, pulselessness, paraesthesia, and paralysis distal to a fracture before and after splinting.

Spinal motion restriction

Apply spinal motion restriction when mechanism plus symptoms or an unreliable assessment suggest possible spinal injury.

Amputated part care

Wrap the amputated part in sterile dressing, seal it in a bag, and cool it on ice without direct contact.

GCS components

Glasgow Coma Scale scores eye 1-4, verbal 1-5, and motor 1-6; a total of 8 or less indicates airway risk.

FAST stroke screen

FAST checks face droop, arm weakness, speech change, and time of onset to identify suspected stroke.

Anaphylaxis treatment

Give intramuscular adrenaline 0.5 mg (1:1000) into the anterolateral thigh, repeating after 5 minutes if symptoms persist.

Hypoglycaemia management

Give oral glucose to a conscious patient who can swallow; use glucagon or IV glucose if unable, then recheck glucose.

OPQRST mnemonic

OPQRST covers onset, provocation, quality, radiation, severity, and time to structure a pain history.

SAMPLE history

SAMPLE records signs, allergies, medications, past history, last meal, and events leading to the presentation.

Seizure first aid

Protect the patient from injury, do not restrain or place objects in the mouth, and time the seizure for duration.

Informed consent elements

Valid consent requires capacity, adequate information about the intervention, and a voluntary decision without coercion.

Refusal of treatment

A competent adult may refuse treatment; document the refusal, risks explained, signature, and witness where possible.

Contemporaneous documentation

Record observations, interventions, times, and patient responses objectively at the time of care, not retrospectively from memory.

Scope of practice

An EMT must practise within the PHECC scope and local protocols and must not perform interventions outside that scope.

Standard precautions

Apply hand hygiene, gloves, eye protection, and safe sharps disposal to every patient regardless of known diagnosis.

Duty of care

Once assessment or treatment begins, a responder owes the patient continued care and a formal handover without abandonment.

Scene safety priority

Assess and secure the scene before patient contact; do not enter an unsafe scene without appropriate resources.

Structured handover

Handover reports age and sex, chief complaint, findings, treatment given, and response, in a clear structured format.