TL;DR

Medication Math (Paramedic): Concentration/volume, drip rate (gtts/min), weight-based dosing, and infusion rate conversions.

By Valenke Exam Prep Team·Last updated 2026-06-02

Medication Math (Paramedic)

NREMT PARAMEDIC

Definition

Concentration/volume, drip rate (gtts/min), weight-based dosing, and infusion rate conversions.

Common Errors

Critical errors in prehospital application of medication math (paramedic):

Failing to reassess after intervention. Vital signs must be rechecked every 5 minutes for unstable patients
Incorrect medication dosing. Always use length-based estimation (Broselow tape) for pediatric patients
Tunnel vision on one finding while missing the complete clinical picture
Not communicating changes to receiving facility during transport

Calculation Methods

Dosage calculations related to medication math (paramedic) in EMS:

adenosine: 6mg rapid IV push, then 12mg if needed (IV rapid push with flush)
midazolam: 2-5mg IV/IM, 0.2mg/kg IN (IV, IM, IN)
epinephrine: 1:10,000 1mg IV/IO q3-5min (cardiac arrest), 1:1,000 0.3mg IM (anaphylaxis) (IV/IO, IM, ET)

Pediatric dosing: always calculate by weight (mg/kg). Use Broselow tape if weight is unknown.

Related Procedures

Procedures related to medication math (paramedic) in the EMS setting:

Spinal motion restriction: mechanism + neuro deficit or midline tenderness = full SMR with C-collar and long board
Stroke recognition: Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (facial droop, arm drift, speech) then last known well time then transport to stroke center

Differential Diagnosis

When assessing medication math (paramedic), use structured assessment tools to differentiate between possible causes:

SAMPLE: Components: Signs/symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last intake, Events. Scoring: Mnemonic for patient history gathering.

OPQRST: Components: Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time. Scoring: Pain assessment mnemonic.

Why It Matters

Medication math heavily tested on Paramedic exam.

Related Terms

Dosage Calculations Pharmacology (Paramedic)IV and IO Access

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Frequently Asked Questions

What protocol applies to medication math (paramedic) in prehospital care?▼

For medication math (paramedic): AHA ACLS cardiac arrest algorithm: CPR then rhythm check then shock if VF/pVT then epinephrine q3-5min then amiodarone

What equipment is needed for managing medication math (paramedic) in the field?▼

For medication math (paramedic): IO drill provides Intraosseous access device for emergent vascular access. Waveform capnograph provides Measures end-tidal CO2 continuously with waveform display. BVM provides Bag-valve-mask for manual ventilation.

What vital signs should be monitored when assessing medication math (paramedic)?▼

For medication math (paramedic): SpO2: 95-100%. blood glucose: 70-140 mg/dL. blood pressure: 90/60-120/80 mmHg. Reassess every 5 minutes for unstable patients.