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Section 4: Medical
Emergencies
1
Chapter 10
General
Pharmacology
2
10: General Pharmacology
Objectives
• Identify medications carried on the unit.
• State generic name of medications carried.
• Identify medications with which the EMT-B
may assist the patient.
• State forms in which medications may be
found.
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10: General Pharmacology
General Pharmacology
• You will be responsible for administering
certain drugs.
• You will be responsible for assisting
patients self-administer other drugs.
• Not understanding how medications work
places you and the patient in danger.
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10: General Pharmacology
Pharmacology Definitions (1 of
2)
• Pharmacology
• The study of the properties and effects
of drugs and medications
• Dose
• Amount of medication given
• Action
• Therapeutic effects expected on the
body
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10: General Pharmacology
Pharmacology Definitions (2 of
2)
• Indications
• Therapeutic uses for a particular drug
• Contraindications
• Conditions in which a medication
should not be given
• Side effects
• Actions of a drug other than the
desired ones
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10: General Pharmacology
Medication Names
• Trade name
• Brand name
given by
manufacturer
• Generic name
• Original
chemical
name
• Prescription drugs
• Given by
pharmacists
according to
doctor’s order
• Over-the-counter
(OTC) drugs
• Available without
a prescription
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10: General Pharmacology
Routes of Administrations (1 of
3)
• Intravenous (IV) injection
• Injected directly into the vein
• Oral
• Taken by mouth; enters body through
digestive system
• Sublingual
• Placed under the tongue; absorbed by
mucous membranes
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10: General Pharmacology
Routes of Administrations (2 of 3)
• Intramuscular (IM) injection
• Injection into the muscle
• Intraosseous (IO)
• Injection into the bone marrow
• Subcutaneous (SC) injection
• Injection into tissue between
skin and muscle
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10: General Pharmacology
Routes of Administration
(3 of 3)
• Transcutaneous
• Medications absorbed through the skin
• Inhalation
• Medications inhaled into the lungs
• Per rectum (PR)
• Administration by rectum
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10: General Pharmacology
Dosage Forms
(1 of 4)
• Tablets
• Materials mixed with
medication and
compressed under
pressure
• Capsules
• Gelatin shells filled
with powdered or
liquid medication
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10: General Pharmacology
Dosage Forms
(2 of 4)
• Solutions
• Liquid mixture of one or more
substances
• Suspensions
• Mixture of fine particles distributed
throughout a liquid by shaking
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10: General Pharmacology
Dosage Forms
(3 of 4)
• Metered-dose inhaler
• Miniature spray
canister, used to direct
medication through the
mouth into the lungs
• Topical medications
• Lotions, creams, and
ointments applied to
skin
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10: General Pharmacology
Dosage Forms
(4 of 4)
• Transcutaneous
medications
• Designed to be absorbed
through the skin
• Gels
• Semi-liquid substances
administered orally
• Gases for inhalation
• Oxygen
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10: General Pharmacology
Medications Carried on EMS Unit
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10: General Pharmacology
Oxygen
• Required by all cells of the
body
• Administered as a gas for
inhalation
• Ignites easily, requiring caution
near sources of ignition
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10: General Pharmacology
Activated Charcoal
• Suspension used to
absorb ingested poisons
• Often combined with a
laxative
• Administered orally as a
suspension
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10: General Pharmacology
Oral Glucose
• Glucose is used by
cells for energy.
• Patients with low blood
glucose are
hypoglycemic.
• It is administered orally
as a gel.
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10: General Pharmacology
Assisted-Administration
Medications
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10: General Pharmacology
Epinephrine
• Increases heart rate and blood pressure
and decreases muscle tone of bronchi
• Eases breathing problems in asthma or
allergic reactions
• May be delivered by MDI, SC, or IM
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10: General Pharmacology
Administering Epinephrine by
Injection
• Sterilize skin.
• Insert needle and
draw plunger back.
• Inject medication.
• Dispose of needle.
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10: General Pharmacology
Metered-Dose Inhaler
• Medication should
be delivered as the
patient is inhaling.
• Device may include
spacer.
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10: General Pharmacology
Nitroglycerin
• Increases blood flow by relieving
spasms and causing arteries to dilate
• May decrease blood pressure
• Available in tablet or spray
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10: General Pharmacology
General Steps to
Administer Medications
(1 of 2)
• Obtain orders from medical control.
• Verify proper medication and prescription.
• Verify form, dose, and route of the
medication.
• Check expiration date and condition of the
medication.
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10: General Pharmacology
General Steps to
Administer Medications (2
of 2)
• Reassess vital signs, especially heart
rate and blood pressure, at least every
5 minutes or as the patient’s condition
changes.
• Document
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