How do EMTs treat hypertension?

How do EMTs treat hypertension?

If the blood pressure remains elevated after beta blockade, a vasodilator such as intravenous nitroglycerin or nitroprusside may be administered. The drugs of choice in treating a hypertensive emergency with acute pulmonary edema are intravenous nitroglycerin, clevidipine, or nitroprusside (1,2,5).

What are treatment protocols EMS?

7 EMS protocols reminders Here are some important reminders about EMS protocols for EMTs and paramedics: Obtaining a patient’s history following a standardized primary and secondary assessment process is the starting point to any protocol. Life-threatening problems such as cardiac arrest are treated as they are found.

How often should vital signs be taken EMS?

National EMT prehospital training standards require providers to obtain a baseline set of vital signs as part of the initial assessment, and subsequent sets of vital signs as part of patient reassessment–every 15 minutes in stable patients and every five minutes in unstable patients.

Can EMS refuse to treat?

Only 34 (17%) EMS systems have written protocols that allow EMS providers to refuse emergency ambulance transport for patients judged to have minor illness or injury after examination. Twenty-one (62%) of these EMS systems do not require on-line physician approval for EMS-initiated refusals.

Which IV fluid is best for hypertension?

All these data above suggest that for patients with hypertension, normal saline should be used carefully for intravenous infusion in the treatment of other diseases.

What BP is hypertensive emergency?

A hypertensive crisis is a severe increase in blood pressure that can lead to a stroke. Extremely high blood pressure — a top number (systolic pressure) of 180 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or higher or a bottom number (diastolic pressure) of 120 mm Hg or higher — can damage blood vessels.

What procedures can an EMT perform?

Besides employing basic medical assessment skills, typical procedures provided by EMTs include CPR, automated external defibrillation, mechanical ventilation using a bag valve mask, placement of air way adjuncts such as oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airways, pulse oximetry, glucose testing using a glucometer.

What is normal blood pressure EMT?

Blood pressure: 90/60 mm Hg to 120/80 mm Hg. Breathing: 12 to 18 breaths per minute. Pulse: 60 to 100 beats per minute.

What vitals do Emts take?

The five vital signs to be obtained are respiration, pulse, skin, blood pressure and pupils. Some literature suggests considering pulse oximetry as the sixth vital sign.

Can EMS take you against your will?

If the ambulance personnel are able to prove that you are not able to make competent decisions, they can take you against your will. The easiest way: the patient is unconscious. The legal way is to ask questions that any competent, sane adult should be able to answer.