Scribd
Upload
33 views16 pages

General Pharmacology: Emergency Medical Technician - Basic

This document provides an overview of general pharmacology concepts for EMT-Basics. It discusses indications and contraindications for medications, dosage, mechanisms of action, effects and side effects. It also covers medication names, forms, routes of administration and the steps to properly administer medications, including obtaining an order, selecting the correct medication, verifying the form and route, informing the patient, and reassessing after administration. The overall purpose is to educate EMTs on safely and properly handling and giving medications in the field.

Uploaded by

umeshnaval
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
33 views16 pages

General Pharmacology: Emergency Medical Technician - Basic

This document provides an overview of general pharmacology concepts for EMT-Basics. It discusses indications and contraindications for medications, dosage, mechanisms of action, effects and side effects. It also covers medication names, forms, routes of administration and the steps to properly administer medications, including obtaining an order, selecting the correct medication, verifying the form and route, informing the patient, and reassessing after administration. The overall purpose is to educate EMTs on safely and properly handling and giving medications in the field.

Uploaded by

umeshnaval
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 16

GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY

EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIAN - BASIC

Temple College EMS Program 1


Pharmacology Basics
• Indications
– The reasons for administering a medication or
performing a treatment
• Contra-indications
– A factor that prevents the use of a medication
or treatment (eg. Allergies)

Temple College EMS 2


Program
Pharmacology Basics
• Dose
– The amount of a drug to be administered at one
time
• Mechanism of Action
– How a drug works

Temple College EMS 3


Program
Pharmacology Basics
• Effects
– The desired result of administration of a
medication
• Side Effects
– Effects that are not desired and that occur in
addition to the desired therapeutic effects

Temple College EMS 4


Program
Medication Names
• Chemical Name
– describes the drug’s chemical structure
• Generic Name
– reflects the chemical name, but in shorter form

Temple College EMS 5


Program
Medication Names
• Trade Name
– the name the manufacturer uses to market the
drug
• Official Name
– the name used in the U.S. Pharmocopoeia

Temple College EMS 6


Program
Routes of Administration
• Sublingual
– Under the tongue
• Nitroglycerin
• Oral
– The drug is swallowed and absorbed through
the stomach and intestinal tract
• Oral Glucose
• Aspirin

Temple College EMS 7


Program
Routes of Administration
• Inhalation
– a gas or aerosol inhaled by the patient
• Oxygen by mask
• Albuterol by hand-held metered- dose inhaler or by
small-volume nebulizer
• Injection
– The drug is injected into a muscle mass
• Epinephrine by auto-injector

Temple College EMS 8


Program
Medication Forms
• Tablets
– compressed powder shaped into a disk
• Aspirin
• Nitroglycerin
• Liquid for Injections
– liquid with no particulate matter
• Epinephrine

Temple College EMS 9


Program
Medication Forms
• Gel
– viscous substance that the patient swallows
• Oral Glucose
• Suspension
– drug particles mixed in a solute
• Activated Charcoal

Temple College EMS 1


Program 0
Medication Forms
• Fine powder for Inhalation
– a crystalline solid mixed with liquid to form a
suspension
• Albuterol by hand-held metered-dose inhaler
• Gas
– Oxygen by mask

Temple College EMS 1


Program 1
Medication Forms
• Spray
– Nitroglycerin sub-lingual spray
• Liquid/vaporized
– Albuterol by small-volume nebulizer

Temple College EMS 1


Program 2
Steps to Administering
Medication
• Obtain an Order
• Confirm Order

Temple College EMS 1


Program 3
Steps to Administering
Medication
• Select Proper Medication
– Avoid contamination
– Check Expiration Date
– Check For Signs of Contamination
• Discoloration
• Cloudiness
• Particulate Matter

Temple College EMS 1


Program 4
Steps to Administering
Medication
• Verify Form & Route
• Inform Patient of Order
– Inquire about allergies
• Recheck Medication
– Expiration date
– Contamination
– At least two more times after initial check

Temple College EMS 1


Program 5
Steps to Administering
Medication
• Assess Patient prior to administration of the
drug
• Administer the correct dose by the correct
route
• Dispose of Contaminated Equipment
• Reassess After Administration

Temple College EMS 1


Program 6

You might also like