PowerPoint® to accompany
Medical Assisting
Chapter 44
Second Edition
Ramutkowski Booth Pugh Thompson Whicker
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
1
Medical Emergencies
and First Aid
Objectives
441 Discuss the importance of first aid during a
medical emergency.
442 Describe the purpose of the emergency medical
services (EMS) system and explain how to contact
it.
443 List items found on a crash cart or firstaid tray.
444 List general guidelines to follow in emergencies.
2
Medical Emergencies
and First Aid
Objectives (cont.)
445 Compare various degrees of burns and their
treatments.
446 Demonstrate how to help a choking victim.
447 Demonstrate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
448 Demonstrate four ways to control bleeding.
3
Medical Emergencies
and First Aid
Objectives (cont.)
449 List the symptoms of heart attack, shock, and
stroke.
4410 Explain how to calm a patient who is under
extreme stress.
4411 Describe your role in responding to natural
disasters and those caused by humans.
4
Introduction
Emergencies of all
types occur when
you are working as
a medical assistant.
You may have to
handle a phone call
from a patient who has
an urgent physical or
psychological problem.
You must be prepared to determine the urgency and handle
any emergency that arises.
5
Understanding Medical
Emergencies
You may see lifethreatening
medical emergencies in the
health care setting.
First aid can:
Save a life
Reduce pain
Prevent further injury
Reduce risk of permanent
disability
6
Preparing for Emergencies
Post emergency
telephone numbers
near crash cart and near
all phones.
Crash cart is a rolling
cart of emergency
supplies and equipment.
Provide information
to EMS
Your name and
location
Nature of the
emergency
Condition of the
injured patient
Summary of the first
aid you have given
Do not hang up until the dispatcher gives you
permission to do so.
7
Common Emergency and First
Aid Supplies
Crash cart
Basic drugs
Supplies
Equipment
Restock the crash cart regularly. Make sure all
supplies are uptodate.
8
Guidelines for Handling
Emergencies
Medical emergency requires you to take certain steps.
Note the presence of serious condition that threaten
the patient’s life, assess the situation and and if
appropriate put on PPE
Do six steps of initial assessment
1. General impression
2. Level of responsiveness
3. Assess ABCs
4. Determine priority of patient’s condition
5. Focus exam and history
9
Telephone Emergencies
Triaging – classification of injuries according
to severity, urgency of treatment and place for
treatment
Follow physician's protocols
Stay calm
Reassure the patient
Act confidently in an
organized manner
10
Personal Protection
Take precautions to reduce chance of
exposure during an emergency
Keep personal protective equipment in first
aid kit at home and work
Gloves
Goggles
Mask or face shield
Gown
Pocket mask or mouth shield
11
Accidental Injuries
Accidental injuries may require
emergency medical care
Bites and stings
Burns
Choking
Ear & eye traumas
Falls & fractures
Head injuries
12
Types of Burns
Thermal – caused by contract with hot
liquids, steam, flames, radiation or excessive
heat from fires
Chemical – exposure to chemical or
industrial facilities chemicals
Electrical – exposure to
electrical current or
lightening
13
Choking
Foreign objects or food
blocks the trachea or
windpipe
Patient cannot speak
Patient is holding hand to
throat and looks afraid
Medical assistants should know first aid for
choking adult, child, or infant!
14
Apply Your Knowledge
What is the universal sign of choking?
15
Apply Your Knowledge Answer
What is the universal sign of choking?
Patient is holding hand to throat
and looks afraid.
16
Ear and Eye Trauma
Ear trauma
Apply bandage with even
pressure
Preserve the ear by placing in
sterile dressing, plastic, labeling
and keeping chilled
Eye trauma
Foreign objects most common
Tiny specks should be removed
with a tissue
17
Falls
Do not move unless
situation is life
threatening.
Stabilize neck if injury
suspected
For minor falls, notify the
physician and document.
18
Fractures, Dislocations,
Sprains, and Strains
Fracture breaks in the
bone which vary in severity
Dislocation displacement
of a bone end from the joint
Sprain partial tearing of
ligaments
Strain muscle injury that
occurs from overexertion
19
Head Injuries
Concussion – jarring injury of the brain
Severe head injuries – contusions, fractures, and
intracranial bleeding.
Patient may lose consciousness, have temporary loss of
vision, pallor, listlessness, memory loss, or vomiting
May requires immediate hospitalization and/or CPR
Scalp hematoma and laceration – blood under the
skin or break in the skin
Control swelling with ice
Control bleeding with direct pressure
20
Hemorrhaging
Hemorrhaging – heavy or
uncontrollable bleeding
Can be internal or external
Use direct pressure, apply additional
dressing as needed
Elevate body part, put pressure on
pressure point
21
Poisoning
Substance that produces
harmful effects if it
enters the body.
Majority of accidental
poisonings happen in
children under age 5.
Call poison control center
22
Weather Related Injuries
Frostbite
Heat stroke
Warm with clothing or other body part
Do not massage
Recognize symptoms and treat as emergency
Place ice packs in groin and armpits
Sunburn
Apply cool water or compresses
Elevate legs and arms to reduce swelling
Drink liquids and take pain reliever
Use sunscreen
23
Wounds
Open wounds – skin or mucous
membrane is damaged
Abrasions – scraping of the
skin
Punctures – small hole created
by a piercing object.
Closed wounds – injury inside
the body without breaking the
skin.
24
Apply Your Knowledge
A patient arrives at the clinic with
severe hemorrhaging from the left
thigh. What steps should you take to
control the bleeding?
25