Anaphylaxis involves two systems — skin plus airway or perfusion — and needs epinephrine.
Before you read
Test yourself first: 3 questions
Question 1 of 3
Before assisting with a patient's own nitroglycerin, you learn he took a medication for erectile dysfunction this morning. You should:
Answer: A. Nitroglycerin combined with an erectile dysfunction drug taken within the previous day or two can drop the blood pressure dangerously. It is withheld, and medical direction is contacted. Being his own prescription and the pain severity do not change the interaction.
Question 2 of 3
Which statement about assisting a patient with their prescribed epinephrine auto-injector is correct?
Answer: A. Auto-injected epinephrine is for a systemic reaction — airway, breathing or perfusion involvement — and waiting for a full-body rash wastes the window. The thigh is the site the device is designed for, and repeat doses follow medical direction rather than the patient's request.
Question 3 of 3
An EMT's authority to assist a patient with their own prescribed medication comes from:
Answer: A. EMTs act under a physician's medical direction — written standing orders or real-time contact — for any medication assistance. The patient's request and a valid label are required checks but do not authorize the act, and the EMT's own judgment works within those orders, not in place of them.
Keep the streak going with more questions like these, each with a full rationale.
Key points to remember
- Anaphylaxis involves two systems — skin plus airway or perfusion — and needs epinephrine.
- Low sugar is fast, cool and clammy; high sugar is slow, warm, dry and thirsty.
- Stroke: face, arm, speech — and the time last known well.
- Sepsis screen: infection with new confusion, a respiratory rate of 22 or more, systolic 100 or less.
- Opioid overdose: ventilate first; naloxone may wear off before the opioid does.
Field priorities
- Carbon monoxide: get everyone out; pulse oximetry can read falsely normal.
- Heat stroke (hot and altered): cool rapidly on scene.
- Status epilepticus: seizure of 5 minutes or back-to-back without waking.
Coaching the patient
- Nitroglycerin is withheld with low blood pressure or an erectile dysfunction drug in 24–48 h.
Red flags: act now
- A quiet chest in a drowsy asthmatic
- Symptoms returning after epinephrine
- New confusion assumed to be dementia
Medical Emergencies at a Glance: FAQs
What are the priority actions for Medical Emergencies at a Glance in the field?
Carbon monoxide: get everyone out; pulse oximetry can read falsely normal. Heat stroke (hot and altered): cool rapidly on scene. Status epilepticus: seizure of 5 minutes or back-to-back without waking.
What findings in Medical Emergencies at a Glance change your plan or your transport decision?
A quiet chest in a drowsy asthmatic. Symptoms returning after epinephrine. New confusion assumed to be dementia.
What do I need to know about Medical Emergencies at a Glance for the NREMT?
Anaphylaxis involves two systems — skin plus airway or perfusion — and needs epinephrine. Low sugar is fast, cool and clammy; high sugar is slow, warm, dry and thirsty. Stroke: face, arm, speech — and the time last known well. Sepsis screen: infection with new confusion, a respiratory rate of 22 or more, systolic 100 or less.
What should the crew communicate or document for Medical Emergencies at a Glance?
Nitroglycerin is withheld with low blood pressure or an erectile dysfunction drug in 24–48 h.
