AOSS Section 2 Exam Terms

accessory muscles

the secondary muscles of respiration, they include the neck muscles (sternocleidomastoids), the chest pectoralis major muscles, and the abdominal muscles.

altered mental status

A change in the way a person thinks and behaves that may signal disease in the central nervous system or elsewhere in the body

AVPU Scale

A method of Assessing the level of consciousness by determining whether the patient is awake and alert, responsive to verbal stimuli or pain, or unresponsive; used principally early in the assessment process.

Blood pressure

The pressure that the blood exerts against the wall of the arteries as it passes through them.

bradycardia

a slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min.

breath sounds

an indication of air movement in the lungs, usually assessed with a stethoscope.

Capillary refill

A test that evaluates distal circulatory system function by squeezing (blanching) blood from an area such as a nail bed and watching the speed of its return after releasing the pressure

Capnography

A noninvasive method to quickly and efficiently provide information on a patient’s ventilatory status, circulation, and metabolism effectively measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in expired air over time.

Carbon dioxide

A component of air that typically makes up 0.03% of air at sea level; also, a waste produce exhaled during expiration by the respiratory system.

Chief complaint

the reason a patient called for help; also, the patient’s response to questions such as “What’s wrong?” or “What happened?”

Conjunctiva

The delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the eyes.

Crackles

A cracking, rattling breath sound that signals fluid in the air spaces of the lungs

Crepitus

A granting or grinding sensation caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing together

Cyanosis

A blue skin discoloration that is caused by a reduced level of oxygen in the blood.

DCAP-BTLS

A mnemonic for assessment in which each area of the body is evaluated for deformities, contusions, abrasions, punctures/penetrations, burns, tenderness, lacerations, and Swelling

Diaphoretic

Characterized by light or profuse sweating.

Diastolic pressure

The pressure that remains in the arteries during the relaxing phase of the heart’s cycle when the left ventricle is at rest

Distracting injury

Any injury that prevents the patient from noticing other injuries he or she may have, even severe injuries; for example, a painful femur or tibia fracture that prevents the patient from noticing back pain associated with a spinal fracture.

field impression

The conclusion about the cause of the patient’s condition after considering the situation, history, and examination findings.

Focused assessment

A type of physical assessment typically performed on patients who have sustained nonsignificant mechanisms of injury or on responsive medical patients. This type of examination is based on the chief complaint and focuses on one body system or part.

Frostbite

Damage to tissues as the result of exposure to cold; frozen or partially frozen body parts are frostbitten.

General impression

The overall initial impression that determines the priority for patient care; based on the patient’s surroundings, the mechanism of injury, signs and symptoms, and the chief complaint

Golden Hour

The time from injury to definitive care, during which treatment of shock and traumatic injuries should occur because survival potential is best; also called the golden period

Guarding

Involuntary muscle contractions (spasm) of the abdominal wall; an effect to protect the inflamed abdomen.

history taking

a steep within the patient assessment process that provides detail about the patient’s chief complaint and an account of the patient’s signs and symptoms.

hypertension

blood pressure that is higher than the normal range

hypotension

blood pressure that is lower than the normal range

hypothermia

a condition in which the internal body temperature falls below 95F (35)

incident command system

a system implemented to manage disasters and mass- and multiple-casualty incidents in which section chiefs, including finance, logistics, operations, and planning, report to the incident commander.

jaundice

yellow skin or sclera that is caused by liver disease or dysfunction

labored breathing

breathing that requires greater than normal effort; may be slower or faster than normal and characterized by grunting, stridor and use of accessory muscles.

mean arterial pressure (MAP)

The average pressure in the curculatory system during one cardiac cycle.

mechanism of injury (MOI)

The forces, or energy transmission, applied to the body that cause injury.

Metabolism

The biochemical processes that result in the production of energy from nutrients with the cells

nasal flaring

widening of the nostrils, indicating that there is an airway obstruction

nature of illness (NOI)

The general type of illness a patient is experiencing.

OPQRST

a mnemonic used in evaluating a patient’s pain: onset, provocation/palliation, quality, region/radiation, severity, and timing.

orientation

the mental status of a patient as measured by memory of person (name), place (current location), time (current year, month, and approximate date), and event (what happened)

palpate

to examine touch

paradoxical motion

the motion of the portion of the chest wall that is detached in a flail chest; the motion - in during inhalation, out during exhalation - is exactly the opposite of normal chest wall motion during breathing.

perfusion

The flow of blood through body tissues and vessels

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Protective equipment that blocks exposure to a pathogen or a hazardous material

Pertinent negative

Negative findings that warrant no care or intervention.

Primary Assessment

a step within the patient assessment process that identifies and initiates treatment or immediate and potential lift threats

pulse

The wave of pressure created as the heart contracts and forces blood out the left ventricle and into the major arteries.

pulse oximetry

An assessment tool that measures oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the capillary beds.

reassessment

a step with the patient assessment process performed at regular intervals during the assessment process to identify and treat changes in patient condition

responsiveness

The way in which a patient responds to external stimuli, including verbal stimuli (sound), tactile stimuli (touch), and painful stimuli.

retractions

movements in which the skin pulls around the ribs during inspiration

rhonchi

coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways.

SAMPLE history

a brief history of patients; condition to determine signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent past history, last oral intake, and events leading to the injury or illness.

Scene size-up

a step within the patient assessment process that involves a quick assessment process that involves a quick assessment of the scene and the surroundings to provide information about scene safety and the mechanism of injury or nature of illness before you enter and begin patient care.

Sclera

The tough, fibrous, white portion of the eye that protects the more delicate inner structures

Secondary assessment

A step within the patient assessment process in which a systematic physical examination of the patient is performed. The examination may be a systematic exam or an assessment that focuses on a certain area or region of the body, often determined through the chief complaint.

Shallow respirations

Respiration characterized by little movement of the chest wall (reduced tidal volume) or poor chest excursion.

Sign

objective finding that can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, or measured.

Situational awareness

Knowledge and understanding of one’s surroundings and the ability to recognize potential risks to the safety of the patient or EMS

Sniffing position

An upright position in which the patient’s head and chin are thrust slightly forward to keep the airway open.

Spontaneous respirations

breathing that occurs without assistance.

Standard precautions

Protective measures that have traditionally and developed by the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) for use in dealing with objects, blood, body fluids, and other potential exposure risks of communicable disease.

Stridor

A harsh, high-pitched, respiratory sound, generally heard during inspiration, that is caused by partial blockage or narrowing of the upper airway; may by audible without a stethoscope.

Subcutaneous emphysema

A characteristic crackling sensation is felt on palpation of the skin, caused by the presence of air in soft tissues. (Air under the skin)

symptom

subjective findings that the patient feels but that can be identified only by the patient

Systolic pressure

The increased pressure in an artery with each contraction of the ventricles

Tachycardia

a rapid heart rate, more than 100 beats/min.

Tidal volume

The amount of air (in milliliters) that is moved into or out of the lungs during one breath.

Triage

The process of establishing treatment and transportation priorities according to severity of injury and medical need.

Tripod position

An upright position in which patient leans forward onto two arms stretched forward and thrusts the head and chin forward.

two-to-three-word dyspnea

A severe breathing problem in which patient can speak only two to three words at a time without pausing to take a breath

Vasoconstriction

Narrowing of a blood vessel.

Vital signs

The key signs that are used to evaluate the patient’s overall condition, including respirations, pulse, blood pressure, level of consciousness, and skin characteristics .

Wheezing

A high-pitched, whistling breath sound that is most prominent on expiration and which suggest an obstruction or narrowing of lover airways, occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis.

pregnant

You should consider all women of childbearing years who are complaining of lower abdominal pain _____

Blunt trauma

refers to an injury of the body by forceful impact with a dull object

Penetrating trauma

an injury that occurs when an object pierces the skin and enters a tissue of the body, creating an open wound

residual volume

the amount of gas remaining in the lung at the end of a maximal exhalation.

auscultation

listening

ABC’s

airway, breathing, circulation.

LOC

Level of consciousness

Deformity

Misshapen body parts (e.g., the arm or leg is no longer straight)

Contusions

Bruising; a collection of blood under the skin

Abrasions

Loss or damage to the surface of the skin from rubbing or scraping.

Punctures

A small penetration through the skin into the soft tissue

Burns

Redness, blisters, r white areas of skin

Tenderness

Pain when an area is palpated.

Lacerations

A dep cut in the skin.

Swelling

A raised or enlarged are of soft tissues on the surface of the body.

High-priority patients

Unresponsive

Difficulty breathing

Uncontrolled breathing

Altered LOC

Severe chest pain

Pale skin or other signs of poor perfusion

Complicated childbirth

Severe pain in any area of body

Documented Information

Date of the incident

Patient’s age

Patient’s sex

Patient’s race

Past medical history, including any pertinent information about the patient’s condition. such as medical problems, traumatic injuries and surgical procedures

Patient’s current health status, including diet. medications, drug use, living environment and hazards, physician’s visits, and family history.

85 to 205 beats/min

Infants 0 - 3 months heart rate

100 to 190 beats/min

Infants and toddlers (3 month to 2 years) heart rate

60 to 140 beats/min

Preschoolers and school-aged children (2 years to 10 years) heart rate

60 to 100 beats/min

Adults and children (Older than 10 years) heart rate

12 to 20 breaths

adults breaths

12 to 16 breaths

adolescents (13 to 18 years old) breaths

18 to 30 breaths

School-aged children (6 to 12 years old) breaths

22 to 34 breaths

Preschoolers (4 to 5 years old) breaths

24 to 40 breaths

toddlers (1 to 3 years old) breaths

30 to 60 breaths

Infants breaths

radial artery

Major artery in the human forearm