🩺Vitals

When emergency personnel arrives to the scene the first things they will obtain is vitals.

Heart Rates (Pulse)

• Normal: Average (60-110 bpm *beats per min)

• Tachycardia: Very high (120-180 bpm *beats per min)

• Bradycardia: Very Low (Below 60 bpm *beats per min)

**If one is sleepy, resting, or on some kind of depressent (downer) drug, their heart rate will decrease

**If one is active, excited or on some kind of stimulant (uppers) drug, their heart rate will increase

Respiratory Rates (Breathing)

• Normal: 12-20 bpm *breaths per min

• Low: Below 12 bpm *breaths per min

• High: Above 20 bpm *breaths per min

**If one is sleepy, resting, or on some kind of depressent (downer) drug, their respiratory rate will decrease

**If one is active, excited or on some kind of stimulant (uppers) drug, their respiratory rate will increase

Lung sounds and breathing quality:

This is determined by the cadence of how a person inhales of exhales. Is it calm or sharp, quick or slow? Is is strained? The sounds of the lungs and airway when one is breathing and there is an obstruction will cause wheezing or whistling.

Blood Pressure

• Normal: 120/80 mmHG

• Low: Less then 90/60 mmHG

• High: Over 140/90 mmHG

**Significant blood loss can lead to a low blood pressure but a higher pulse.

Oxygen Saturation (SP02)

• Normal: 95% - 100%

• Low: 90% - 94% (not a severe concern)

• Low (O2 required): 80% - 89% (area of concern)

• Dangerously Low: Below 79% (become disoriented, lips turning blue, O2 required)

Pupil Reaction

• Dilation: This is the widening of the pupil which can be caused by adrenaline or drugs such as MDMA, cocaine, amphetamines and some hallucinogens.

• Constriction: This is the narrowing of the pupil, which may be caused by drugs such as opiates/opioids.

• Slow or uneven: Will happen in cases of drinking large amounts of alcohol or on depressant (downer) drugs. This can also be caused from a trauma brain injury (TBI) such as a fall, motor vehicle accident or being struck on the head by an object.

• Bloodshot: You may have red or watery eyes due to dust, allergens, dry air, smoke, chemical exposure, infection, being hit in the eye, recent eye surgery, little to no sleep, exhaustion or drinking too much alcohol (the more alcohol you drink, the more visible the red and tiny blood vessels in your eyes appear).

**In the case of a traumatic brain injury, pupils will become blown out on one side and constricted on the other. Basically small on one side and giant on the other.

Questions asked:

• Checks pulse

• Checks breathing

Response Examples:

• Pulse (this response can be a basic or detailed number) *exepct EMS to react to the RP scenario if you give a range that is not normal

  • /me normal

  • /me high

    • /me 160 bpm

  • /me low

    • /me 36 bpm

  • /me rapidly declining from 60 bpm

  • /me no pulse (CPR needed)

• Breaths ((this response can be a basic or detailed number) *exepct EMS to react to the RP scenario if you give a range that is not normal)

  • /me normal

  • /me shallow (taking in small amt of air)

  • /me fast and shallow (fast and gasping for air)

  • /me slow and shallow

  • /me not breathing (does not mean CPR will start, simply means they need to find out why you are not breathing, for example collapsed lung or trachea)

NO pulse and NO breathing results in CPR *see CPR section

Symptoms of bradycardia:

• Pulse of below 60 BPM.

• Chest pain;

• Confusion or memory problems;

• Dizziness or light-headedness;

• Easily tiring during physical activity;

• Fatigue;

• Fainting (syncope) or near-fainting;

• Shortness of breath.

Symptoms of tachycardia:

• Pulse of above 150 BPM;

• Sensation of a racing, pounding heartbeat or flopping in the chest (palpitations);

• Chest pain;

• Fainting (syncope);

• Light-headedness;

• Shortness of breath.

Symptoms of supraventricular tachycardia:

• Pulse of above 200 BPM;

• A fluttering or pounding in the chest (palpitations);

• A pounding sensation in the neck;

• Weakness or feeling very tired (fatigue);

• Chest pain;

• Shortness of breath;

• Light-headedness or dizziness;

• Sweating;

• Fainting (syncope) or near fainting.

Symptoms of hypotension:

• Dizziness or light-headedness;

• Fainting;

• Blurred or fading vision;

• Nausea;

• Fatigue;

• Lack of concentration;

• Confusion, especially in elderly people;

• Cold, clammy, pale skin;

• Rapid, shallow breathing;

• Weak and rapid pulse.

Symptoms of hypertension:

• Blurred vision;

• Nosebleeds;

• Shortness of breath;

• Chest pain;

• Dizziness;

• Headaches.