Chapter 13 - Principles of pharmacology and emergency medications. In this chapter, you will learn: Explain what a drug is, identify the four types of drug names, explain the meaning of drug terms that are necessary to interpret information in drug references safely, outline drug standards and legislation and the enforcement agencies pertinent to the paramedic profession. | 9/10/2012 1 Chapter 14 Venous Access and Medication Administration 2 Lesson Mathematical Equivalents and Drug Calculations 3 Copyright © 2013 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company 1 9/10/2012 Learning Objectives • Convert selected units of measurement into the household, apothecary, and metric systems. • Identify the steps in the calculation of drug dosages. • Calculate the correct volume of drug to be administered in a given situation. • Compute the correct rate for an infusion of drugs or intravenous fluids. 4 Learning Objectives • List measures for ensuring the safe administration of medications. • Describe actions paramedics should take if a medication error occurs. • List measures for preserving asepsis during parenteral administration of a drug. 5 Drug Dosage Measuring Systems • • • • • Metric system Apothecary system Household system Deals with mass, volume units Physicians use any system ordering drugs 6 Copyright © 2013 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company 2 9/10/2012 Metric System • French developed, latter 18th century • 1866, Congress declared official measurement system in the United States • Not required in the United States, adopted by medical sciences, pharmacies, federal mints, armed forces – About 92% of countries in the world use it • International system of units, modern form, abbreviated SI 7 Metric System • Basic metric measurement units – Meter, linear measurement, 1 meter slightly longer than 1 yard – Liter, capacity/volume, 1 liter slightly more than 1 quart – Gram, weight, 1 gram slightly more than weight of metal paper clip 8 9 Copyright © 2013 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company 3 9/10/2012 Metric System • Basic units divided, multiplied by 10, 100, 1000 parts, form secondary units – Differ from each other by 10, some multiple of 10 – Subdivisions made when decimal is moved left – .
