2006-09-21 08:29:15 · 6 answers · asked by twinkie3469 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Well, in EMS, much of what we do is done through estimation. We don't carry scales in our rigs, so we can't determine precisely what a patient's weight is, so we estimate. We normally don't put fluids on pumps (unless they're medicated fluids like dopamine or lidocaine), so we start out by counting drops. However, after awhile, you get pretty good at looking at the drip chamber and just "knowing" when you're close. For example, if the Dr. orders fluid at 125cc/hr, I know that's pretty close to one drop every two seconds (we carry 15gtt administration sets). I watch for about 10 seconds. If I see 5 drops, that's close enough for emergency situations. If the Dr. orders 100, I slow it down just a hair.
2006-09-21 15:43:48 · answer #1 · answered by firemedicgm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Set the fluid reservoir on a scale. If you know the weight of 1 ml of the fluid, you can monitor the volume flow from the container in real time by the loss of weight.
2006-09-22 00:52:23 · answer #2 · answered by barbara m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make things called "flow rate meters" that measure the rate of fluid flow in real time. Do a yahoo search.
2006-09-21 15:33:39 · answer #3 · answered by Hatty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. You say "monitor" rather than "measure" which implies real time. Hospitals use a device that DOES count the drops using an LED and detector.
2006-09-21 15:34:03 · answer #4 · answered by Cirric 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let it fill up a container of water over a given amount of time. Then the flow is simply the volume of water / time it took to fill it.
2006-09-21 15:30:51 · answer #5 · answered by Cadair360 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you do the formula amount of fluid divided by the amount of time and you get the gtts
2006-09-23 03:29:01 · answer #6 · answered by kayro3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋