Start my first shift ever as an EMT this Sunday, very excited.
One thing that is tripping me up is how to be able to tell one medical emergency from another when the sign/symptoms are very similar.
For example, Congestive Heart Failure and Asthma have a lot of the same symptoms. But if you interpret a CHF patient as an Asthma patient and give albuterol, it's going to make them a lot worse.
Another one is Hyperglycemia VS Alcohol Intoxication. Luckily we're allowed to use glucometers with our company so I'm not as worried about this one.
What are some other emergencies that can mimic each other, and what do you guys do to tell the difference between the two examples I listed above?
One thing that is tripping me up is how to be able to tell one medical emergency from another when the sign/symptoms are very similar.
For example, Congestive Heart Failure and Asthma have a lot of the same symptoms. But if you interpret a CHF patient as an Asthma patient and give albuterol, it's going to make them a lot worse.
Another one is Hyperglycemia VS Alcohol Intoxication. Luckily we're allowed to use glucometers with our company so I'm not as worried about this one.
What are some other emergencies that can mimic each other, and what do you guys do to tell the difference between the two examples I listed above?