lOMoARcPSD|3013804
Signs and Symptoms Notebook Block 3
Emt-1/Basic (Orange Coast College)
, lOMoARcPSD|3013804
Sarah Kwok
Saturday-Hybrid
Signs and Symptoms Notebook
Block 3
Migraine Headache
● Definition: Migraines occur when blood vessels change in size near the base of the brain. Patients of any
age can experience migraines, whether they are young or old.
● Risk Factors:
○ Acute condition- lifestyle origin
○ Structural
■ Females
○ Metabolic
■ History of migraines
● Signs & Symptoms
○ Pain in the head
■ Pounding
■ Throbbing
■ Pulsating
○ Nausea
○ Vomiting
○ Flashing lights
○ Partial vision loss
○ Symptoms can last from a few hours, to multiple days
● Field Treatment
○ Be sure to reassess patient for serious underlying conditions
○ High flow oxygen via nonrebreather mask
○ Dark, quiet environment
■ Do NOT use lights and sirens when transporting patient
■ Patients are sensitive to sound and light
○ Immediate transport via position of comfort
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
● Definition: A Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is a temporary blood clot that gets lodged in the brain,
, lOMoARcPSD|3013804
which decreases blood supply to brain tissue. Usually these symptoms will disappear within 24 hours,
but as an EMT, you may not be able to judge between a TIA and a stroke. Transient Ischemic Attacks
(TIA) are often called mini strokes, because they present the symptoms of a stroke, however they go
away after the clot dissolves or gets dislodged. Since these symptoms are temporary, the patient’s brain
tissue is not damaged. Though a TIA is not necessarily a dangerous condition, a TIA is usually a
warning sign for a future stroke.
● Risk Factors:
○ Acute Condition- lifestyle origin
○ Structural
■ Geriatric patients
○ Metabolic
■ Atherosclerosis
● Signs & Symptoms
○ Facial drooping
○ Sudden weakness on one side of the body
○ Lack of muscle coordination
○ Loss of balance
○ Loss of sensation and movement on one side of the body
○ Vision loss; blurred or double vision
○ Difficulty swallowing
○ Decreased level of responsiveness
○ Speech disorders
○ Aphasia (speech difficulty)
○ Acute severe headache
○ Confusion, dizziness, combativeness, restlessness
○ Tongue deviation
○ coma
○ Symptoms that last for 24 hours or less
● Field Treatment
○ Strict airway maintenance
○ High flow oxygen via nonrebreather mask ONLY if patient is experiencing hypoxia
or respiratory distress
○ Aspirin
○ Restraint (protection from injury) if patient has paralysis of extremities
○ Verbal comfort
○ Immediate transport
Concussion
● Definition: Concussions occur after mild traumatic brain injury, such as some sort of blow to the head.
In a concussion, there shouldn’t be any visible trauma to the head, rather a temporary loss or altered
function of the brain. Concussions range from mild to serious, depending on the mechanism of injury.
Signs and Symptoms Notebook Block 3
Emt-1/Basic (Orange Coast College)
, lOMoARcPSD|3013804
Sarah Kwok
Saturday-Hybrid
Signs and Symptoms Notebook
Block 3
Migraine Headache
● Definition: Migraines occur when blood vessels change in size near the base of the brain. Patients of any
age can experience migraines, whether they are young or old.
● Risk Factors:
○ Acute condition- lifestyle origin
○ Structural
■ Females
○ Metabolic
■ History of migraines
● Signs & Symptoms
○ Pain in the head
■ Pounding
■ Throbbing
■ Pulsating
○ Nausea
○ Vomiting
○ Flashing lights
○ Partial vision loss
○ Symptoms can last from a few hours, to multiple days
● Field Treatment
○ Be sure to reassess patient for serious underlying conditions
○ High flow oxygen via nonrebreather mask
○ Dark, quiet environment
■ Do NOT use lights and sirens when transporting patient
■ Patients are sensitive to sound and light
○ Immediate transport via position of comfort
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
● Definition: A Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is a temporary blood clot that gets lodged in the brain,
, lOMoARcPSD|3013804
which decreases blood supply to brain tissue. Usually these symptoms will disappear within 24 hours,
but as an EMT, you may not be able to judge between a TIA and a stroke. Transient Ischemic Attacks
(TIA) are often called mini strokes, because they present the symptoms of a stroke, however they go
away after the clot dissolves or gets dislodged. Since these symptoms are temporary, the patient’s brain
tissue is not damaged. Though a TIA is not necessarily a dangerous condition, a TIA is usually a
warning sign for a future stroke.
● Risk Factors:
○ Acute Condition- lifestyle origin
○ Structural
■ Geriatric patients
○ Metabolic
■ Atherosclerosis
● Signs & Symptoms
○ Facial drooping
○ Sudden weakness on one side of the body
○ Lack of muscle coordination
○ Loss of balance
○ Loss of sensation and movement on one side of the body
○ Vision loss; blurred or double vision
○ Difficulty swallowing
○ Decreased level of responsiveness
○ Speech disorders
○ Aphasia (speech difficulty)
○ Acute severe headache
○ Confusion, dizziness, combativeness, restlessness
○ Tongue deviation
○ coma
○ Symptoms that last for 24 hours or less
● Field Treatment
○ Strict airway maintenance
○ High flow oxygen via nonrebreather mask ONLY if patient is experiencing hypoxia
or respiratory distress
○ Aspirin
○ Restraint (protection from injury) if patient has paralysis of extremities
○ Verbal comfort
○ Immediate transport
Concussion
● Definition: Concussions occur after mild traumatic brain injury, such as some sort of blow to the head.
In a concussion, there shouldn’t be any visible trauma to the head, rather a temporary loss or altered
function of the brain. Concussions range from mild to serious, depending on the mechanism of injury.
