This interactive lecture explores the prehospital care of psychiatric emergencies and behavioral crises, situations which may be the result of an acute medical situation, mental illness, mind-altering substances, stress, or other causes. This module discusses how to assess a person who exhibits signs and symptoms of a psychiatric emergency or a behavioral crisis and determine what kind of emergency care may be required in these situations.
After completing this course, the practitioner will be able to:
Discuss possible causes of psychiatric and behavioral emergencies.
Explain the relationship between psychiatric and behavioral emergencies and the use of illicit substances such as narcotics and stimulants.
Explain how psychiatric signs and symptoms are categorized.
Describe the assessment process for patients with psychiatric emergencies, including safety guidelines and specific questions to ask.
Identify strategies for communicating with patients during behavioral crises.
Discuss the general management of a patient with a psychiatric emergency.
Discuss techniques for physically and chemically restraining a patient.
Describe the emergency medical care of a patient with excited delirium.
Explain how to recognize the behavior of a patient at risk of suicide, including the management of such a patient.
Practitioners who successfully complete Psychiatric and Behavior Emergencies (AEMT Edition) course are eligible for 1 hour of continuing education
