Bledsoe et al.

, Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1

2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Division 1
Introduction to Advanced
Prehospital Care
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Chapter 7
Intravenous Access and
Medication Administration
Part 3
Medical Mathematics
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Topics
Metric System Conversions
Systems of Measure
Medical Calculations
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Metric System
Three fundamental units
GramsMass
MetersDistance
LitersVolume
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Conversion Between Prefixes
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Medical Calculations
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Desired Dose
Specific quantity of medication needed
Most doses expressed as weight:
Grams
Milligrams
Micrograms
May be standard or based on body
weight
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Dosage and Volume on Hand
The amount of drug available in
a solution.
Concentration is the weight per
volume.
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Calculating Medication Doses

Volume to be administered =

Volume on hand (desired dose)
Dosage on hand
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Calculating Infusion Rates
Medicated Infusions

Drops/minute =

Volume on hand x drip factor x desired dose
Dosage on hand
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Calculating Infusion Rates
Fluid Volume Over Time

Drops/minute =

Volume to be administered (drip factor)
Time in minutes
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Exact flow rates are critical in pediatric
patients since they cannot tolerate over-
or under doses.
Bledsoe et al., Essentials of Paramedic Care: Division 1
2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Summary
Metric System Conversions
Systems of Measure
Medical Calculations