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WMN Editors

THE USE OF MEDICAL OXYGEN IN EMS

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YIGH header

ISSN-1059-6518

Volume 26 Number 4

By Frank Hubbell, DO

Illustrations By T.B.R. Walsh

MEDICAL OXYGEN (O2):

To be used on anyone who is exhibiting signs and symptoms of hypoxia:

 

Shortness of breath

Increase or decrease in respiratory rate

– Adult: respiratory rate less than 10 or greater than 30

– Child (1 year – 12 years old): respiratory rate less than 15 or greater than 30

– Infant (0 – 12 months old): respiratory rate less than 25 or greater than 50

Increase in heart rate.

Change in level of consciousness.

Change in skin color: pallor or cyanosis.

 

 Never, ever withhold oxygen from someone who appears to need it.

The following is needed to provide supplemental oxygen to a patient:

✔  O2 tank

✔  Regulator

✔  Delivery device – O2 mask

 

 Medical Oxygen Storage Tanks:

Come in various sizes.

✔ Are identified by color– either the entire tank is green or the curved part of the tank, “the shoulder,” is green

✔ Have an identifying yellow, diamond shaped label on the tank that is marked U.S.P. and Oxygen

✔ Full tanks contain 2000 PSI of pressure and must be handled properly.

 

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WMN Editors

Chest Trauma and the Lungs

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IN the last edition of the Wilderness Medicine Newsletter, we discussed the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system and respiratory medical emergencies. In this issue, we will continue our discussion by focusing on chest trauma.  Some traumatic injuries to the chest, such as a flail chest or traumatic asphyxia, though uncommon, are life-threatening. While others, like a fractured clavicle or rib, are very common, yet can still be very serious or even life-threatening. Any traumatic injury to the chest cavity should be considered serious until proven otherwise.

ISSN-1059-6518

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WMN Editors

Asthma and Rescue Inhalers

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September/October 2008  ISSN-1059-6518  Volume 21 Number 5

By Frank Hubbell, DO

Illustrations by T.B.R. Walsh

As described in the feature article, asthma is recurrent (not progressive) and reversible. An asthma attack is caused by allergens that have been inhaled into the airway causing swelling, bronchospasm, and increased mucous production by the bronchioles. This will cause the bronchioles to narrow, producing expiratory wheezing (wheezing on exhalation), which will then cause air to become trapped in the alveoli. Due to the decrease in air movement, and air trapping, asthma patients will complain of a worsening sensation of shortness of breath (SOB)—dyspnea.

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