PADI RTO First Aid Student Manual

HLTAID007 - PROVIDE ADVANCED RESUSCITATION

Vital signs How do you assess and interpret vital signs, including respirations, temperature and pulse? Respirations You assess a casualty’s respiration by counting the number of breaths per minute measured at rest. You do this by counting how many times the chest rises per minute. Bear in mind that the breathing rate may increase with fever, illness, and with other medical conditions. Note whether the casualty has difficulty breathing. Normal respiration rates for an adult person at at rest range from 12 and 20 breaths per minute. A casualty who takes less than 8 breaths per minute, or more than 24 breaths per minute, probably needs immediate medical care. Temperature Body temperature varies depending on gender, recent activity, food and fluid consumption, time of day, and (in women) the stage of the menstrual cycle. Normal body temperature can range from 36.5 to 37.2 degrees Celsius for a healthy adult. Temperature can be measured orally, rectally, axillary (in armpit), by ear, by skin. Body temperature may be abnormal due to fever (high temperature) or hypothermia (low temperature). Average skin temperature is warm and skin should feel dry to the touch. Noticeable skin colour changes may indicate heart, lung or circulation problems. Pulse Pulse is the measurement of the number of times the heart beats per minute. As the heart pushes blood through the arteries, the arteries expand and contract with the flow of the blood. Taking a pulse can also indicate the heart rhythm and strength of the pulse. The normal pulse for healthy adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. A person’s pulse can be found on the side of the neck, on the inside of the arm, or at the wrist. For most people, it is easiest to take a casualty’s pulse at the wrist. You do this by using your first and second fingertips; (do not use your thumb); press firmly but gently on the artery until you feel a pulse and then count the pulse for 60 seconds. Also determine whether the pulse may be described as rapid, strong or weak. Oropharyngeal airway What are the benefits of using an oropharyngeal airway? When a casualty becomes unconscious the muscles in their jaw relax, which may cause the tongue to obstruct the airway. During Skill Development you will learn how to insert an oropharyngeal airway – a medical device used to maintain or open a casualty’s airway to prevent the tongue from obstructing the airway so they can either breathe themselves or you can ventilate for them. There are a variety of sizes and they are commonly used for pre-hospital short-term emergency care or when manual methods are inadequate to help maintain an airway. What are contraindications and complications with the use of an oropharyngeal airway? If the oropharyngeal airway has been damaged during storage then you will need to replace it. You may also find foreign material in the airway; if the foreign material cannot be removed and the airway cannot be sterilised, replace it. Also, replace it if the airway is the wrong size. If you find the packaging is damaged you will need to either sterilise the airway or replace it.

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PADI RTO