EMT Chapter 2 EMS Systems

acute stress reactions

reactions to stress that occur during a stressful situation

airborne transmission

the spread of an organism via droplets or dust

bloodborne pathogens

pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. these pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC)

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

communicable disease

a disease that can be spread from one person or species to another

concealment

the use of objects to limit a persons visibility of you

contamination

the presence of infectious organisms on or in objects such as dressings, water, food, needles, wounds, or a patients body

cover

the tactical use of an impenetrable barrier for pretection

critical incident stress management (CISM)

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

cumulative stress reactions

prolonged or excessive stress

delayed stress reactions

reactions to stress that occur after a stressful situation

designated officer

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

direct contact

exposure or transmission of a communicable disease from one person top another by physical contact

exposure

a situation in which a person has had contact with blood, body fluids, or airborne particles in a manner that suggests disease transmission may occur

foodborne transmission

the contamination of food or water with an organism that can cause disease

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

host

the organism or individual that is attacked by the infecting agent

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 or certain cancers

immune

the body's ability to protect itself from acquiring a disease

indirect contact

exposure or transmission of disease from one person to another by contact with a contaminated object

infection

the abnormal invasion of a host or host tissues by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites, with or without signs or symptoms of disease

infection control

procedures to reduce transmission of infection among patients and healthcare personnel

infectious disease

a medical condition caused by the growth and spread of small, harmful organisms within the body

occupational safety and health administration (OSHA)

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

pathogen

a microorganism that is capable of causing disease in a susceptible host

personal protective equipment (PPE)

protective equipment that blocks exposure to a pathogen or a hazardous material

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

a delayed stress reaction to a prior incident. often the result of one or more unresolved issues concerning the incident, and may relate to an incident threat involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm

transmission

the way in which an infectious disease is spread: contact, airborne, by vehicles, or by vectors

standard precautions

protective measures that have traditionally been developed by the CDC for use in dealing with objects, blood, body fluids, and other potential exposure risks of communicable disease

vector-borne transmission

the use of an animal to spread an organism from one person or place to another

Vaccination against the hepatitis A virus is unnecessary if you:

have been infected with hepatitis in the past.

General adaptation syndrome is characterized by which of the following phases?

Alarm response, reaction and resistance, and recovery

Upon arriving at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, you note that two small cars collided head-on; the occupants are still in their vehicles. The fire department is in the process of stabilizing the vehicles and law enforcement personnel are directing traffic. After parking the ambulance at a safe distance, you and your partner should:

put on high-visibility safety vests.

Which of the following statements regarding the different stages of the grieving process is correct?

The stages of the grieving process may occur simultaneously.

At the scene of an automobile crash, a utility pole has been broken and power lines are lying across the car. The patients inside the car are conscious. You should:

mark off a danger zone around the downed lines.

While providing care to a patient, blood got onto the ambulance stretcher. Because the stretcher was not properly cleaned afterward, a virus was transmitted to another emergency medical technician (EMT) several days later. Which route of transmission does this scenario describe?

Indirect contact

When decontaminating the back of your ambulance after a call, you should:

allow surfaces to air dry unless otherwise indicated in the product directions.

You are transporting an elderly woman who has possibly experienced a stroke. She is obviously scared but is unable to talk and cannot move the entire right side of her body. In addition to providing the medical care that she needs, you should:

acknowledge that she is scared and tell her that you will take good care of her.

Which of the following statements regarding HIV is correct?

There is no vaccine against HIV infection.

The simplest, yet most effective method of preventing the spread of an infectious disease is to:

wash your hands in between patient contacts.

The EMT's first priority is __________.

personal safety

Which of the following is an effective stress management strategy?

Developing a social network outside of EMS

Vector-borne transmission of an infectious organism occurs via:

animals or insects

Common factors that influence how a patient reacts to the stress of an illness or injury include all of the following, EXCEPT:

assessment by the EMT.

Gloves, a mask, eye protection, and a face shield should be used:

when performing endotracheal intubation.

The MOST serious consequence of drug or alcohol abuse among EMS personnel is:

substandard or inappropriate patient care.

Quid pro quo, a type of sexual harassment, occurs when the harasser:

requests sexual favors in exchange for something else.

Which of the following scenarios MOST accurately depicts a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reaction?

An EMT becomes distracted at the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving the same type of car in which a child was previously killed.

After assessing a patient's blood glucose level, you accidentally stick yourself with the contaminated lancet. You should:

report the incident to your supervisor after the call.

Which of the following would provide the EMT with the BEST cover in a situation involving active gunfire?

A concrete barricade