Block 1 Test Vocab

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

A landmark law passed in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in various areas such as employment, public accommodations, and transportation, ensuring equal opportunities and accessibility.

Automated external defibrillator (AED)

A device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the patient

emergency medical dispatch (EMD)

a system that assists dispatchers in selecting appropriate units to respond to a particular call for assistance and provides callers with vital instructions until the arrival of EMS crews

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Federal legislation passed in 1996. Its main effect in EMS is in limiting availability of patients’ health care information and penalizing violations of patient privacy

Intravenous (IV) therapy

Delivery of medication directly into a vein

Mobile integrated health care (MIH)

A method of delivering health care that involves providing health care within the community rather than at a physicians office or hospital

National EMS Scope of Practice Model

A document created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that outlines the skills performed by various EMS providers.

Primary prevention

efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring

Primary service area

The designated area in which the EMS agency is responsible for the provision of prehospital emergency care and transportation to the hospital.

Public safety access point

A call center, staffed by trained personnel who are responsible for managing requests for police, fire, and ambulance services

Secondary prevention

efforts to limit the effects of an injury or illness that you cannot completely prevent

Acute stress reactions

Reactions to stress that occur during a traumatic situation

Aerosol-generating procedure

treatments that increase the risk for transmission of infections that are spread through the air or by droplets; CPR is an example

Bloodborne pathogens

pathogenic microorganisms present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. EX: hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Centers for DIsease Control and Prevention (CDC)

the primary federal agency that conducts and supports public health activities in the US. The CDC is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Compassion fatigue

Stress disorder characterized by gradual lessening of compassion over time

Concealment

use of objects to limit persons ability to see you

Cover

tactical use of an impenetrable barrier for protection

Critical incident stress management (CISM)

process that confronts the responses to critical incidents and defuses them, directing the emergency services personnel toward physical and emotional equilibrium

Designated officer

individual in the department who is charged with the responsibility of managing exposures and infection control issues

General adaptation syndrome

the body’s response to stress that begins with an alarm response, followed by a stage of reaction and resistance, and then recovery or if the stress is prolonged, exhaustion

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver, usually caused by a viral infection, that causes fever, loss of appetite, jaundice, fatigue, and altered liver function

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by HIV, which damages the cells in the body’s immune system so that the body is unable to fight infection of certain cancers.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Federal regulatory compliance agency that develops, publishes, and enforces guidelines concerning safety in the workplace.

Wellness

The active pursuit of a state of good health