The point I was trying to make by posting that huge list is that no one can answer a question like "what causes vomiting blood?" out of context. It can be any number of things, as I demonstrated.
The symptom is just a tiny piece of the patient puzzle. I am sure that as an EMT, one of the things you will learn, or have already learned, is the assessment algorithm. In the field, we don't write down SAMPLE and ask those questions in that order, but it is vital to get the elements of the assessment and know them cold. It is only in the context of a million things - many of which you pick up in the first 30 seconds of patient contact, that enable you to answer the question for that specific patient in the circumstances you find them in.
There is more to the answers given you by the experienced members of this forum than meets the eye. You have to get really good at figuring things out - especially when it's just you and the patient and there is no one else there to ask.
and don't forget, the patient doesn't read the book
To be fair, though, I'd consider Kaisu pretty reliable.
)
Miss Xina said:
I think sarcasm is more of a technique used to try to alleviate the major serious bidness some of ya'll got goin' on here.
Sarcasm is like the O2 of the internet. Not always a bad thing, and generally applicable everywhere.
I think sarcasm is more of a technique used to try to alleviate the major serious bidness some of ya'll got goin' on here.
Sarcasm is like the O2 of the internet. Not always a bad thing, and generally applicable everywhere.
No. Clearly it is a defense mechanism that indicates your tentative, ultimately failing attempt at holding back mass tears.
h34r: