Tag: The Human Machine

Q: Are listening and auscultating separate stations/activities? Listening to a recording to identify normal and abnormal sounds and auscultating to demonstrate where to listen, but not actually hearing and identifying anything? 

A: Students will be asked to identify RECORDED heart and lung sounds. See previous answers and study guide for particulars.They may also be asked to identify the correct locations for auscultation of the heart and lungs. They will NOT be performing auscultations.

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Q: For the assessment of the patient’s pulse, should the kids plan to bring a stopwatch? Will the proctor tell them when to begin and stop measuring the patient’s pulse?

A: Taking a pulse will not be a part of the skills assessment. Within knowing about CPR and Blood Pressure measurement, students should know what it is, where you would measure it, and when it should be taken.  

Q:. For the station regarding the general physiology and anatomy section: is that all answering questions on a worksheet or will there be a hands-on activity at that workstation too?

A: Material in the study guide can be evaluated/assessed in a number of ways. They may need to ID body parts on a model. Label a picture. Or answer a question of various types: T/F, matching, multiple choice, fill in the blank.

Q: Will kids need to know abnormal lung sounds as well or just the normal lung sounds?  

A: Just ABNORMAL vs NORMAL. They will NOT need to specify the kind of abnormal sounds: crackles, wheezes, or the such.

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Q:. For the auscultation station: will they need to show all 4 areas of heart auscultation and front and back lung auscultation?  

A: This information may be assessed. 

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Q: It was mentioned that kids will need to differentiate abnormal from normal heart sounds? What about atrial fibrillation? Will they be shown an EKG instead? Is there a YouTube video for atrial fibrillation sound that they can listen if they will be asked to differentiate between murmur and atrial fibrillation?

A:: For the heart sounds they need to be able to distinguish:  Normal vs. Murmur vs. Arrythmia

I hesitate to add videos at this late date. Most of these have a lot more information than needed– ALOT.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO COVER THIS MATERIAL WITH THE STUDENTS. NO EKG. 

Q: I’m watching the cardiac cycle video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VW93tgztaA) and I think maybe the narrator misspoke? Starting at around 1:30 in the video: “The oxygen-starved blood returning from the circulatory system passes through the vena cava  into the right atrium” and “Simultaneously, the oxygen-starved blood returning from the circulatory system passes through the pulmonary veins and fills the left atrium” I think the second one is the oxygen rich blood returning from the lungs? 

A: You are correct. He means oxygen-rich. This is was the clearest video I could find (while still have the necessary level of detail) and is intended for the coaches.  If you find one you like better, please share. 

These are some others, but they all have issues (too hard, too easy, boring)

Q: It is very difficult to hear Korotkoff sounds with the stethoscope provided. It also does not fit on my team’s heads. I tried to do multiple people’s blood pressure using the stethoscope, and could not hear clear sounds to assess blood pressure to any degree of accuracy. The cuff works very well and I was able to measure blood pressure using my office stethoscope. Will the provided stethoscope be the same type used during the competition? It may not be sufficient.

A: The stethoscopes and cuffs are medical grade devices and have been tested with a number of children and adults.  Please make sure to read the instructions for correct use of both the stethoscope and the cuff.