WestCoast EMT Chapter 2 Flashcards

EMT’s work in stressful situations; ensure to focus on:

Personal safety, Scene safety, Patient care

Infectious Disease

Caused by the growth and spread of small, harmful organisms within the body.

Direct Contact

Occurs when an organism is moved from one person to another through touching without any intermediary (blood-borne pathogens). Touching, biting, kissing or sexual intercourse, or by the direct projection of droplet (droplet spread).

Indirect Contact

Involves the spread of infection to another person through an inanimate object (needle sticks, or touching a dirty gurney).

Airborne

Spreading infection through mechanisms such as droplets or dust.

Foodborne Transmission

Involves the contamination of food or water with an organism that can cause disease (contaminated foods).

Vector-borne Transmission

Involves the spread of infection by animals or insects that carry an organism from one person or place to another (Mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies).

Standard Precautions

Prevent health care workers from coming into contact with germs. Personal protective equipment, Patient care environment, Special circumstances. BSI/Scene safety.

Hand Hygiene

Most effective way to control disease transmission. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. If no running water, use a waterless substitute but wash hands later.

Masks, Respirators, and Barrier Devices

Wear a particulate respirator if the disease agent is airborne (N95 or HEPA). When performing oral suctioning, use mask, gloves and eye protection.

Lifelong Immunity

The illness will not recur (Measles, Mumps, Polio, Rubella, Hepatitis).

Partial Immunity

Infection provides lifelong immunity to the patient from acquiring a new infection, but the original illness may recur (Chickenpox, Tuberculosis).

No Immunity

Exposure confers no protection from reinfection (Gonorrhea, Syphilis, HIV)

CDC recommends the following immunizations for healthcare workers:

Hepatitis B, Influenza (yearly), Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), Varicella (chickenpox), Tdap.

If you are exposed to a patient’s blood or bodily fluids:

First, turn over patient care to another EMS provider. Clean the exposed area with soap and water, activate your department’s infection control plan, and complete an exposure report.

General Adaptation Syndrome

Describing how the body responds to and adapts to stress. Alarm response, Reaction and resistance, and Recovery (or exhaustion).

Alarm Stage

“Fight-or-flight” response. Increased heart rate, increased respioratory rate, increased blood pressure, Broncho dilation (Lungs), vasoconstriction, pupil dilation, decreased GI motility, perspiration, increased blood glucose.

Reaction and Resistance Stage

Vitals slow down and normalize. Although your body enters this recovery phase, it remains on high alert for a while. Stress hormone still secreted, and can lead to exhaustion if continues for too long.

Exhaustion Stage

The result of prolonged or chronic stress. Drains your physical, emotional, and mental resources.

Acute Stress Reactions

Occur during a stressful situation.

Delayed Stress Reactions

Manifest after a stressful event.

Cumulative Stress Reactions

Prolonged or excessive stress, may not be obvious at the time of event.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Reexperiencing the event and overresponding to stimuli that recalls the event.

Two Types of Sexual Harassment

Quid pro quo (requests sexual favors in exchange for something), Hostile work environment (touching, leering, etc.)

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

Developed to address acute stress situations and potentially decrease the likelihood of PTSD.