Vital Signs, Oxygen &
Medical Emergencies
Warning:
blood and guts to follow !
Vital Signs
 Vital Signs
 Oxygen Therapy
 Oxygen Devices
 Chest Tubes and
Lines
Vital Signs
 Indication of
 Physical assessment
Homeostasis
 Primary Mechanisms
include measurement
of vital signs
 Body Temperature
Pulse
Respiration
Blood Pressure
Mental Status





Heart beat
Blood pressure
Body temperature
Respiratory rate
Electrolyte
balance
Body Temperature
 Normal average body
 Measuring Body
temperature: 98.6 F
Humans can survive
between 106 F and
93.2 F.
Temperature
 Hypothermia
 Axillary
 Hyperthermia
 Tympanic
 Oral
 Rectal
Pulse
 Pulse rate: Adult = 60 to 100 beats per
minute
 Children under 10 = 70 to 120 beats per
minute
 Tachycardia
 Bradycardia
Respiratory Rate
 Breaths per minute: Adult = 12 to 20
 Children under 10 = 20 to 30 per min
 Tachypnea
 Bradypena
 Dyspnea
 Apnea
Pulse Oximeter
• Normal Pulse
Oximeter = 95%
to 100%
Blood Pressure
• Blood Pressure
• Systolic pressure =
95-140 mmHg
• Diastolic pressure =
60-90 mmHg
• Hypertension
• Hypotension
Oxygen
 Oxygen constitutes 21% of atmospheric
gases
 If O2 levels in the body drop below 21%
homeostasis is altered.
 Hypoxia: Inadequate amount of oxygen at
the cellular level.
Oxygen Devices
 Nasal Cannula
 Masks
 Nonrebreathing
mask
 Aerosol
mask
 Air-entrainment mask
Tent and Oxyhood
Chest Tubes and Lines
• Endotracheal
Tube (ET)
– Ventilator
• Chest Tubes
• Nasogastric tube
(NG)
• Central Lines
Review
 Vital Signs
 Electrolyte balance
 Homeostasis
 Pulse Oximeter
 Body Temperature
 Oxygen
 Pulse
 Oxygen Devices
 Respiration
 Chest Tubes
 Blood Pressure
 Chest Lines
 Mental Status
Winston Churchill
 "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.
The optimist sees the opportunity in every
difficulty."
Winston Churchill
Questions?
• Vital Signs
Medical Emergencies
TRAUMA = X-RAY IS READY
SPINAL INJURY PT
GSW to the Abdomen


Compound Fx of Femur
Medical Emergencies
• Definitions
• What should the
RT know?
• Common
Radiology
Emergencies
Medical Emergencies

Definition: Sudden change in medical
status requiring immediate action.

For RT’s medical emergencies are
rare, however as medical personnel
we must be prepared to recognize
emergencies.
Fractured Forearm
What an RT should know…..
How to…..
 Avoid additional harm to the patient
 Obtain appropriate medical assistance
quickly

 Recognize
emergency
situations

Remain calm and confident
Anaphylactic Reaction

An immune response to foreign material
Bronchospasm – wheezing and
edema in the throat and lungs
 Can lead to shock
 Requires prompt recognition and
treatment from the technologist
Why do RT’s care about Anaphylactic
RXN’s….?

Water Soluble Iodine
• High atomic # 53
• Radiopaque
• Used to radiograph
–
–
–
–
Vessels
Arteries
Veins
Function of internal
organs
Iodine Contrast Material
• Ionic Iodine Contrast
– Anion – Cation +
– More patient allergic
reactions
• Non-Ionic Contrast
– Less patient allergic
reactions
Radiology Department
 Patients
are usually sent to
the radiology department
only after they have been
stabilized.
 However……
General Priorities
Ensure an open
airway
 Control Bleeding
 Take Measures
to Prevent shock
 Attend to
wounds or
fractures
appropriately

Provide
emotional
support
 Continually
reevaluate and
follow up

ABC
• A = Air Way
• B = Breathing
• C = Circulation
CPR
• C = Cardio
• P = Pulmonary
• R = Respiration
• Must be certified
for the
“Health Care
Provider”
• Cards good for 2
years are
available.
Become familiar with………..
• In your work environment:
– Emergency assistance protocol (how to
get help)
– Emergency Cart/Crash Cart Location
Important Conditions to be
Aware of……

Level of Consciousness: ALOC

Altered Level Of Consciousness

Anaphylactic Shock: vasogenic shock

Hypoglycemic/Hyperglycemia

NPO – Nothing by Mouth
Medical Terms to Know…..

Pallor = paleness; absence of skin
coloration

Shock = failure of the circulatory system

CPR = cardiopulmonary resuscitation

For program must be for Health Care
Provider
Continued……………
Stroke = Cerebrovascular Accident
(brain)
 Heart Attack = Myocardial Infarct
(heart)
 N/V = Nausea & Vomiting
 Epistaxis = nosebleed
 Vertigo = dizziness
 Syncope = fainting

And more……

Hemorrhage =
bleeding outside
a vessel
Radiologic Technology
• You never know
when a medical
emergency may
occur.
• Helping your
patients depends
on your abilities to
stay calm and
perform you duties!
Questions?
• Infection Control
• Vital Signs
• Medical
Emergencies