Ch 2 - Well Being of and EMT

5 emotional stages

• denial

• anger

• bargaining

• depression

• acceptance

  • can be any other

High stress situations related to the profession

• long hours

• boredom between calls

• working too much, too hard

• getting little recognition

• having to respond instantly

• making life-and-death decisions

• fearing serious errors

• being responsible for someone’s life

emergency calls that would produce extreme levels of stress

• multiple causality incidents

• abuse and neglect of infants, kids, adults, or elderly

• emergencies involving infants

• providing care to a relative

• severe traumatic injuries (i.e. amputations)

three types of stress reactions

1. acute stress reactions (snap)

2. delayed stress reaction (holding it in)

3. cumulative stress reaction (i.e. burnout)

general categories of stress findings

• thinking

• psychological

• physical

• behavioral

• social

stress management: lifestyle changes

• take a look at your diet

• avoid self-medication

• learn to relax

• exercise often

• 
  

stress management: keeping balancing

• establish priorities, keep them

• talking with a trusted friend/family member

• knowing you’re human, mistakes will happen

• remember that you don’t need to be “perfect” to do a good job

stress management: recognize the response of the family or friends

• lack of understanding

• fear of separation/being ignored

• worry about an on-call situation

• inability to plan

• frustrated desire to share

stress management: changes to work environment

• have a buddy system with a coworker

• encourage and support coworkers, don’t dwell on the negatives

• exercise

• request shift that allows more relaxation

• request a rotation of duty assignment seek professional help if needed

Critical Incident affects

• symptoms of burnout may occur after CI

• may also suffer from mental images of the situation, inability to function on subsequent calls, and fear of continuing work in EMS

Criticial Incident Stress Management approaches

• Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

• defusing

scene safety

• stay away from infectious diseases

• stay within scope of training

• handle violence properly

• following proper rescue procedures

types of pathogens

• bacteria

• viruses

• fungi

• protozoa

• helmint6hs

bacteria

• single-celled organisms that can reproduce

• respond to antibiotics

viruses

• need host

• invade cells to reproduce

• not responsive to antibiotic

• mild, self-limiting illness

fungi

• plant-like microorganisms

• don’t cause illness in normal immune system

• problem in people with immune deficiency

protozoa

• single celled organisms that can move

• found in soil

• gastroenteritis

• vaginal infections

• malaria

helminths

• parasitic worms

  • roundworms

  • flukes

  • tapeworms

  • hookworms

communicable disease

an infectious disease that can be passed from person to person

standard precautions to protect against infection diseases (OSHA guidelines)

• handing washing

• hand sanitizer (60%)

  • but wash hands with soap and water as soon as possible

• personal protective equipment (PPE)

  • eye protection

  • gowns

  • masks

  • HEPA respirator

  • N-95 respirator
    
    

additional guidelines

• use disposable equipment

• wash soiled clothing/uniforms

• document any exposures

• bag infectious items

• use sharps containers

• clean up blood/body fluids

• clean visible soil from nonhorizontal walls

How to protect yourself from injury?

• use vehicle restraint systems

• safe lifting and moving techniques

• getting adequate sleep

• physical fitness and proper nutrition

• using standard precautions

situations where you may need protection

• rescue operations

• hazardous materials incidents

• violence/crime scenes

• biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction

hazardous materials to use

• binoculars and the US Emergency Response Guidebooks

• request a hazardous materials team

• allow hazardous materials personal to decontaminate patient and bring them to you

What does the federal law require you to use at or near roadways

• visibility vest or garments

  • class 1

  • class 2

  • class 3

What does physical well-being include

• physical fitness

• adequate sleep

• injury prevention

physical fitness

• cardiovascular endurance

• muscle strength

• muscle endurance

• muscle flexibility

• body composition

the rate of what is high among EMS

• suicide

resiliency

ability to cope with stress and adversity without suffering lasting physical or psychological harm

what habits can improve resiliency

• good nutrition

• exercise

• adequate sleep

• no smoking/drinking

• maintaining good social interactions