Patient Care · Assistance, monitoring and emergencies2 min read5-question check
Medical Emergencies
Recognize the signs, call for help early, and stay with the patient. Anaphylaxis needs epinephrine and a code call.
Shock
Shock is poor blood flow to the tissues. Hypovolemic shock comes from blood or fluid loss. Cardiogenic shock comes from a failing heart. Septic, anaphylactic, and neurogenic shock come from dilated vessels. Early signs are anxiety, restlessness, a rapid weak pulse, pale cool clammy skin, and fast breathing. Falling blood pressure is a later sign. Call for help, keep the patient flat, raise the legs if no injury prevents it, and keep the patient warm.
Stroke and seizure
For a possible stroke, use BE-FAST: balance loss, eye or vision changes, face drooping, arm weakness, speech trouble, and time to call. Note when symptoms began, because treatment depends on it. For a seizure, do not restrain the patient or put anything in the mouth. Ease the patient to a safe surface, move hard objects away, protect the head, and time the seizure. Afterward, turn the patient on the side to keep the airway clear.
The numbers
Low and high blood sugar look different. Hypoglycemia comes on fast: shaking, sweating, pale cool skin, hunger, and confusion. A level below about 70 mg/dL is the usual cutoff. Hyperglycemia builds over hours or days: thirst, frequent urination, warm dry skin, and a fruity breath odor. Worked example: a diabetic patient fasting for an upper GI becomes sweaty and confused two hours into the wait. Low blood sugar is likely. If alert and able to swallow, give oral glucose or juice per policy and notify the nurse. If not, call for help and give nothing by mouth.
Collapse and reactions
Syncope is a brief loss of consciousness from reduced blood flow to the brain. Lay the patient flat with the legs raised and do not let the patient stand quickly. If a patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call a code, start CPR, and use an AED as soon as it arrives. Mild contrast reactions, such as limited hives or itching, need observation and possibly diphenhydramine. Anaphylaxis brings throat tightness, wheezing, or falling blood pressure, and needs a code call and epinephrine.
Clinical Example
Two minutes after a contrast injection, a patient says her throat feels tight and she starts to wheeze. The technologist stops the injection, stays with her, and calls the emergency team. The team gives epinephrine while the technologist brings the crash cart and oxygen.
Common Mistakes
- Waiting for low blood pressure before suspecting shock.
- Putting a bite block or fingers in the mouth of a seizing patient.
- Giving food or drink to a patient who cannot swallow safely.
- Treating throat tightness or wheezing as a mild reaction and only observing.
Why It Matters
The registry asks you to recognize each emergency from its signs and pick the right technologist action. Telling a mild reaction from anaphylaxis is a frequent question.
Key Relationships
- Rapid weak pulse + cool clammy skin → early shock
- Fast onset, sweaty, confused diabetic → hypoglycemia
- Unresponsive, not breathing → code, CPR, AED
- Wheezing or throat tightness → anaphylaxis → epinephrine