2019 EMT Refresher Instructor Manual

B.3.A - Endocrine Station: Hypoglycemia Instructor Guidance

Objectives:

1. Demonstrate how to use the AVPU scale to test for patient responsiveness. (p 262) 2. Demonstrate how to evaluate a patient’s orientation and document his or her status correctly. (pp 262–264) 3. Demonstrate the techniques for assessing a patient’s airway and correctly obtaining information related to respiratory rate, rhythm, quality/character of breathing, and depth of breathing. (pp 265–269) 4. Demonstrate how to assess a radial pulse in a responsive patient (pp 270–272) 5. Demonstrate history-taking using the SAMPLE mnemonic and the OPQRST mnemonic 6. Demonstrate how to measure blood pressure by auscultation. (pp 296–300, Skill Drill 8-3) 7. Demonstrate how to measure blood pressure by palpation. (p 300) 8. Demonstrate taking a heart rate on a patient 9. Demonstrate taking a breathing rate on a patient 10. Demonstrate how to obtain a pulse rate in a patient. (pp 270–272) 11. Demonstrate how to assess capillary refill in an adult or child older than 6 years. (pp 273–274) 12. Demonstrate how to perform a focused assessment of a patient 13. Demonstrate the use of a pulse oximetry device to evaluate the effectiveness of oxygenation in the patient. (pp 289–290) 14. Demonstrate the use of electronic devices to assist in determining the patient’s blood pressure in the field. (pp 290–291) 15. Demonstrate how to measure blood pressure by auscultation. (pp 296–300, Skill Drill 8-3) Deployment: DO NOT LECTURE – your students should be working hands-on within 5 minutes of arriving Deploy your students in one team – one student should be patient, the rest rescuers. The patient should sit and pretend to be pacing around the room holding shoes. Have them transition through the scenario on the back of this sheet like any other scenario from a scenario lab day. Debriefing: Give students feedback on the case after it is complete. Some points to discuss: - Did they take steps to insure their safety until they knew what was wrong? - Did they do a full assessment including ABC’s? - Did they administer oxygen? This patient probably didn’t need it - What symptoms suggested diabetic emergency? o Altered mental status o Pale, sweaty skin o Patient said “insulin” o Medic Alert Tag - What made this patient awake enough to swallow? 16. Demonstrate how to measure blood pressure by palpation. (p 300) 17. Demonstrate how to solicit a medical history from a patient (pp 278) Setup: - Cohort Bag Stairchair -

o Pacing o Talking o Holding things with arms