The ambulance arrives: what are the priorities?

Q. what are the priorities?

• Oxygen Saturations: oxygen is needed for patients who have low saturations
• Oxygen mask: oxygen is needed for patients who have low saturations
• pain relief: intravenous opiate analgesia(such as morphine) reduces pain and anxiety, often given in association with an anti-emetic
• iv access (venflon): iv access is necessary for giving emergency drugs
• cardiac monitor: patients with chest pain are at high risk of arrhythmia which needs to be recognised as soon as possible
• 12 lead ECG: 12 ECG is needed as soon as possible to identify patients suffering ST segment elevation MI (STEMI) who require emergency reperfusion therapy
• anti-platelets: ACS patients require aspirin and either clopidogrel or one of the newer anti-platelet drugs such as ticagrelor or prasugrel
• anti-coagulant: ACS patients require anti-coagulant drugs such as heparin
• Observations : An assessment of the patients condition is necessary as soon as possible using A (airway) B (breathing) and C (circulation). Pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturations are measured.