Workforce Safety/Wellness/Lifting and Moving/Patient Restraint

Bariatrics

Study and treatment of obesity

PPE

Equipment needed for safety precautions in patient care.

Resiliency

Ability to cope with stress without suffering lasting physical or psychological harm

Standard precautions

Minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care situations

Supine hypotensive syndrome

Hypotension in a pregnant woman who is lying supine

The EMT team arrives on the scene after being notified of the accident. They quickly assess the situation: the bicyclist is lying on the road unconscious, while the driver of the car seems shaken but physically unharmed. Bystanders are beginning to crowd around, and the traffic in the area is still moving, though slowly. Fluids are leaking from the car, and the position of the accident is dangerously close to an intersection.

The EMTs must now decide the order of actions based on the question: Who’s safety comes first?

In any emergency call, the general safety priority follows this order:

1. Personal safety (EMT and team): The EMTs must first make sure the scene is safe for them to enter. If there is still a risk (e.g., traffic, leaking fuel, unstable vehicles), they must mitigate that before proceeding. If they’re injured, they won’t be able to help anyone else.

2. Safety of bystanders: Ensuring bystanders are not in harm’s way, such as guiding them away from the accident site and out of moving traffic. This prevents further injuries and keeps the area clear for emergency work.

3. Safety of the patient(s): Only after the scene is safe for the EMTs and bystanders can they focus on providing medical care to the patient(s)—in this case, the injured bicyclist and potentially the driver of the car.

Maintaining scene safety includes…?

1. Addressing hazards

2. Appropriate PPE

3. Safe lifting and moving

4. Safe transport

5. Appropriate transfer of care

Scenario:

You and your partner respond to a multi-car collision on a busy highway. When you arrive, you see that firefighters and police officers are already on the scene, directing traffic and helping injured individuals. One of the vehicles is overturned, with a driver trapped inside, bleeding heavily. The firefighters are working to extricate the driver, but time is critical—he’s losing blood rapidly.

The police wave you over and urge you to come close to start treatment immediately, as the patient looks to be in critical condition. The scene seems somewhat under control since other first responders are already present.

Do you immediately go to the trapped driver to begin treatment while the firefighters work to get him out?

At first glance, it might seem like the presence of firefighters and police makes the scene safe enough to prioritize patient care over waiting. However, the correct answer is no—scene safety is still the top priority.

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Answer: Even though other first responders are already present, scene safety is always the first priority. The overturned vehicle may still be unstable, and the environment (highway traffic, potential fuel leakage, etc.) could still pose risks. Before treating the patient, EMTs must ensure the scene is fully safe, even if it means waiting for the firefighters to stabilize the situation. Safety of the EMTs and their partners must come before patient care to avoid further injuries.

What can prolonged lack of sleep lead to in an EMT?

Impaired cognitive function similar to being intoxicated (20+ hours without sleep mimics legal intoxication)

List 4 ways an EMT can reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke

1. Don’t smoke/vape

2. Manage hypertension and stress

3. Exercise and eat well

4. Manage high cholesterol and diabetes

Scenario:

You and your partner are dispatched to a house to assist with an injured man. The family informs you that the patient, who has a history of mental illness, injured himself by punching through a glass window during an outburst. He’s inside the house, sitting on a couch with a deep laceration on his arm, bleeding steadily.

When you arrive, the family urges you to come inside quickly to help. The man appears agitated but not immediately combative. You assess the situation and decide to enter the house to stop the bleeding. As you begin to check his injury, the man suddenly becomes increasingly agitated. He stands up, pacing and shouting aggressively.

Before you can react, he moves toward the door, now blocking your exit. His behavior is growing more erratic, and it’s clear he’s becoming a danger to himself—and potentially to you. You’re inside the house with no easy way out, and the situation feels like it could escalate.

Should you try to calm him down and proceed with care, or focus on his injury and stop the bleeding?

The correct answer is neither: the priority is ensuring you have a safe way out. Never allow a combative patient to stand between you and the exit.

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Lesson: In this scenario, you should have ensured that you never allowed the patient to block your way to the door. When dealing with an unstable or potentially combative patient, always position yourself in a way that keeps your exit route clear. Even if the patient seems calm initially, their behavior can change suddenly, and your safety could be compromised if you’re trapped inside.

In this case, once the patient became agitated and positioned himself between you and the exit, you should prioritize creating space and keeping a safe distance until law enforcement or additional support arrives to help manage the situation. No matter how urgent the injury may seem, your safety comes first.

Scenario:

You and your partner respond to a cardiac arrest call at a family home, accompanied by a four-person engine crew. When you arrive, the patient, an elderly man, is unresponsive, and you immediately begin CPR. As you're working, one of the patient’s sons, who is large and physically imposing, becomes increasingly upset. He starts yelling at you to stop and leave, despite your ongoing efforts to save his father.

Recognizing the situation is escalating and becoming unsafe, you decide to halt CPR and instruct your team to back away. You calmly tell everyone to exit the room and wait for law enforcement to arrive, prioritizing the safety of your team over continuing care in a potentially dangerous situation.

As you back out of the room, the patient’s daughter rushes in, shouting at her brother to calm down, explaining that you're there to help. Just then, the police arrive. The daughter and the officers escort the son outside, defusing the situation. With the scene now safe, you and your team resume CPR and continue treating the patient.

Did you make the right call?

Yes. You and your team made the right call by prioritizing scene safety. Even though the patient needed critical care, the situation became volatile, and backing off prevented any potential harm to your team. Scene safety always comes first, even in high-stakes medical emergencies.

Scenario:

It’s a stormy night, and you and your partner are dispatched to a chaotic multi-vehicle accident on a rural highway. On arrival, you see a scene of total mayhem: three vehicles are involved—one car is flipped on its side, another has smoke coming from the engine, and a third has skidded off the road and crashed into a tree. There’s debris scattered across the highway, and traffic is still dangerously moving around the wreckage.

Several victims are trapped inside the cars, screaming for help. A woman in one vehicle is bleeding profusely from her head, a man in the overturned car is unconscious, and a child is crying in the backseat of another car. Bystanders are trying to assist, some standing in the middle of the road, shouting for you to come quickly. You spot one man in particular who is attempting to pull the unconscious driver from the flipped car, but he’s struggling and looks panicked.

Who do you help first?

The answer is: no one. Despite the chaos, your first responsibility is to ensure the scene is safe for you and your partner before rendering aid. The smoke from the vehicle could signal a potential fire, the overturned car might shift, and oncoming traffic poses a serious risk. You must take a moment to assess the scene: call for additional resources like fire and police to control traffic, stabilize vehicles, and ensure there are no fire hazards. It may feel wrong to wait, especially with the cries for help, but entering a hazardous scene could lead to further injury or even prevent you from providing care at all.

Once the scene is safe, you can begin prioritizing medical care for the victims. But until then, your safety comes first. You can't help anyone if you become a victim yourself.

Scenario:

It’s a typical Tuesday afternoon, and you and your partner are dispatched to a routine call for a middle-aged man complaining of chest pain at a quiet suburban home. The neighborhood is peaceful, the weather is clear, and the call sounds straightforward—just another day on the job.

Upon arrival, you’re greeted by the man’s wife at the door. She’s calm but worried, and she directs you inside where her husband is sitting on the couch, holding his chest and breathing heavily. He’s alert, conscious, and able to speak, and everything about the situation feels routine. You begin your standard assessment: checking vitals, asking about medical history, and preparing to take him to the hospital.

As you’re working, you notice some small details that don’t quite add up: the man’s story is a little inconsistent, and he seems agitated despite your calm approach. His wife is pacing anxiously, and there are odd looks exchanged between them. It feels like they’re not telling you something.

Then, out of the corner of your eye, you see a teenage boy walking down the stairs. He’s wearing a hoodie and seems upset. You barely have time to register what’s happening before he starts shouting at his parents, accusing them of calling for help because of "the stupid fight" they had earlier. Tensions rise quickly. The man on the couch stands up, his calm demeanor rapidly shifting into frustration. He starts yelling back at the boy, and suddenly, the peaceful suburban home becomes a chaotic scene.

Your partner looks at you with concern, and you realize the situation has escalated far beyond a routine medical call. You now have an agitated patient, a distressed family, and a volatile situation brewing.

Do you continue treating the man as planned, or should you reassess your safety and take precautionary measures?

Lesson: Always remain vigilant and alert to you and your partner's safety, even on routine calls.

In this case, what seemed like a simple chest pain call quickly escalated into a potentially dangerous situation. Tensions between family members were high, and the initial calm was misleading. Remaining focused solely on patient care without being aware of the changing dynamics could have put you and your partner at risk. The teenage son’s anger, combined with the father’s agitation, could easily have led to an aggressive confrontation.

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Key Takeaway: Even the most routine calls can shift unexpectedly. You must always stay aware of your surroundings and be ready to back out or request law enforcement if a situation becomes unsafe. Always maintain a clear path to the exit, monitor for signs of rising tension, and keep an open line of communication with your partner. Your safety comes first—never let your guard down, even when things seem routine.

List a few emotional demands of the EMS profession

• Routine exposure to the stages of grief during death and dying

• Routine exposure to high stress situations like

  • Violence

  • Frequent fliers

  • Patients who need more than the EMS system can provide

  • Long hours, high call volume, sleep deprivation

  • Aggressive system status management (move-ups, postings)

Acute stress

Immediate physiological and psychological reaction to a specific event. Fight or flight response

Delayed stress

Stress reaction that develops after a stressful event (PTSD)

Cumulative stress

Result of exposure to stressful situations over a prolonged period. Can lead to burnout, anxiety, increased clinical errors, ambulance-related accidents, PTSD

Scenario:

It’s the middle of the night, and you and your partner are dispatched to a high-speed rollover accident on the freeway. The call is urgent—multiple victims, possible entrapment, and severe injuries. As you approach the scene, your heart races, and adrenaline pumps through your veins.

It’s a chaotic scene: a car is flipped on its roof, shattered glass covers the highway, and two victims are trapped inside. One passenger is unresponsive, while the driver, a young woman, is awake but severely injured and panicked. Her screams for help pierce the air, and you can see she’s pinned under the crushed dashboard.

Your partner assesses the scene as safe to enter, so you and your partner jump into action, but as soon as you approach the vehicle, you’re hit with an overwhelming sense of panic. The wreckage looks worse than anything you’ve seen before. The blood, the twisted metal, and the desperate cries from the driver send your heart racing even faster.

Your breathing becomes shallow, and your hands begin to tremble as you try to focus. You hear your partner shouting instructions, but everything feels like it’s moving in slow motion. You can’t seem to process what’s happening. It’s like you’re frozen in place, unable to think clearly. You keep looking at the crushed car, feeling a wave of helplessness and fear washing over you.

Your mind races with thoughts: What if we can’t get her out in time? What if I make a mistake? You’re suddenly hyper-aware of the sounds around you—the sirens, the shouting, the honking of distant cars. It all feels too overwhelming. For a moment, it feels like the walls are closing in, and you can’t breathe.

Your partner, noticing your sudden withdrawal, snaps you out of it: “Hey, I need you over here, focus!” The urgency in their voice pulls you back to reality, but your heart is still pounding. You shake your head, trying to refocus, but the intense stress is clouding your judgment.

What is this an example of?

An acute stress response. commonly known as “fight, flight, or freeze.” In high-pressure situations, EMTs can experience overwhelming stress that triggers a physiological and psychological response, making it difficult to think or act clearly.

In this scenario, the EMT experienced symptoms of acute stress: rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, trembling, and feeling paralyzed by fear. The intensity of the scene—combined with the gravity of the injuries and the chaos—triggered a stress reaction that interfered with the EMT’s ability to perform.

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Key Takeaway: Recognizing acute stress responses in yourself or your partner is crucial. In moments like this, it’s important to take a brief moment to regain composure: focus on your breathing, communicate with your team, and remember your training. Acute stress can happen to anyone in the field, and learning how to manage it in the moment is key to ensuring both your safety and your ability to provide effective care.

Scenario:

It’s been several weeks since you and your partner responded to a devastating incident: a mass casualty event at a local concert. During the chaotic scene, you treated multiple victims suffering from various injuries, including several people in critical condition. The sheer volume of patients, the frantic atmosphere, and the emotional weight of the situation were overwhelming, but you pushed through, focusing on your training and providing care.

In the days that followed the event, you kept yourself busy with routine calls, focusing on the job and maintaining a sense of normalcy. You reassured yourself that you were fine—after all, you’d handled intense situations before. However, gradually, you began to notice subtle changes in your emotional state.

Weeks later, while at home, you find yourself lying in bed unable to sleep. The memories of the concert replay in your mind, vivid and haunting. You remember the faces of the injured, the sounds of cries for help, and the chaotic rush of adrenaline. You can’t shake the feeling of helplessness that you felt during the event.

During the day, you feel fine, but as night falls, anxiety creeps in. You start having trouble concentrating, and small tasks at work begin to feel insurmountable. One night, you suddenly burst into tears while watching a TV show that reminds you of the concert, feeling overwhelmed by emotions that you had kept bottled up.

As weeks turn into months, you notice that you’re increasingly irritable and distant from friends and family. You avoid social situations, preferring to stay home. The laughter and joy that used to characterize your downtime have been replaced by a pervasive sense of dread and sadness. You feel disconnected from your loved ones, as if a veil has descended between you and the world.

During a quiet shift at work, a call comes in that triggers a strong emotional response. It’s a report of an accident involving multiple injuries. Instead of feeling your usual focus and determination, you feel your heart race, and a wave of panic washes over you. Memories of the concert flood back, and you suddenly feel trapped in the same chaos you experienced weeks ago.

What is this an example of?

This scenario exemplifies a delayed stress response, where the emotional and psychological effects of a traumatic event manifest long after the incident has occurred.

In this case, the EMT initially pushed through the traumatic experience, suppressing their feelings and focusing on routine duties. However, the trauma from the mass casualty event began to surface weeks later, leading to anxiety, irritability, emotional detachment, and flashbacks.

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Key Takeaway: Delayed stress responses can impact first responders in profound ways, often leading to significant emotional and psychological distress. It’s crucial to recognize the signs of delayed stress reactions, such as changes in mood, sleep disturbances, or heightened anxiety, and seek support when needed. Acknowledging and addressing these feelings is essential for mental well-being and for maintaining effectiveness on the job.

Scenario:

You have been an EMT for over five years, working in a busy urban environment where calls come in rapidly. At first, the adrenaline of emergency calls kept you engaged and motivated. You’ve handled everything from minor injuries to life-threatening situations, including multiple car accidents, cardiac arrests, and even traumatic incidents like shootings and overdoses.

Initially, you felt invigorated by the challenge and the chance to help people in need. However, as the years went by, the accumulation of calls began to weigh heavily on you.

Over the past few months, you’ve noticed that the nature of the calls has changed. You’ve responded to several tragic incidents involving children, including a drowning and a severe car crash. Each time, you pushed through the emotional turmoil, focusing on your duties and reminding yourself that you were trained for this. But with every incident, you felt a small piece of you chip away.

Your days off are no longer filled with relaxation and fun; instead, they are haunted by memories of those calls. You find yourself replaying traumatic moments in your mind, questioning your decisions during those high-stress situations. Sleep comes harder and harder, and you often wake up in a cold sweat, reliving the horrors of your job.

At work, you’ve become increasingly irritable, snapping at your partner over minor issues. You feel detached from the work that once energized you, and your enthusiasm for helping others has diminished significantly. The calls, which once felt routine, now leave you feeling drained and anxious.

One day, you respond to a particularly challenging call involving a young child who has fallen from a playground structure. The child is injured but conscious and crying for their parents. As you assess the child, you suddenly feel overwhelmed by memories of previous pediatric calls that ended tragically. Your heart races, and you struggle to focus on the child’s needs, feeling a wave of panic wash over you.

During the assessment, you make a critical error in administering the wrong dosage of medication. Fortunately, your partner catches it just in time, but the incident shakes you to your core. You realize that your stress and lack of focus have led to an error that could have had serious consequences.

Later, during a break, your partner notices your distress and asks if you’re okay. You realize you can’t hold it in any longer. You break down, confessing how exhausted you feel from the weight of the calls you've responded to over the years. You’re frustrated with your declining job satisfaction and the fear that you’re not performing at your best anymore.

What is this an example of?

This scenario highlights cumulative stress, which arises from ongoing exposure to traumatic situations, leading to emotional exhaustion, decreased job satisfaction, and increased clinical errors.

Key Takeaway: Cumulative stress often goes unrecognized until it significantly affects performance and well-being. Prioritizing self-care, seeking support, and utilizing stress management techniques are essential. Regular debriefings and mental health resources are crucial for addressing the long-term effects of cumulative stress, ensuring both mental health and effective patient care. Recognizing the impact of repeated trauma is vital for the safety of everyone involved.

Resiliency

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

Signs of stress and burnout

• Anxiousness, irritability

• Headache, poor concentration

• Loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping

• Loss of interest in sex, hobbies, work, family, friends

• Increased use of alcohol, drugs

Scenario:

Jamie has been an EMT for three years, working in a busy urban area. At first, the adrenaline and excitement of the job kept Jamie motivated. However, recently, they have started to notice some changes.

Every shift begins with a wave of anxiousness, making Jamie dread what the next call might bring. They often find themselves feeling irritable and snapping at colleagues over trivial matters, leading to growing tension among the team. During a particularly busy week, Jamie experienced a pounding headache that lingered for days, making it hard to concentrate on patient assessments. They couldn’t shake the feeling of being mentally foggy, often forgetting details from calls almost as soon as they finished.

At home, sleep has become elusive. Jamie lies awake, replaying traumatic calls in their mind and often feels restless, tossing and turning. When they do manage to sleep, it’s broken and unrefreshing, leaving them drained. As a result, Jamie has started skipping meals at work, opting for quick snacks instead of proper meals, and has lost interest in cooking at home.

Once an avid runner, Jamie now finds it difficult to lace up their shoes, feeling unmotivated to exercise. Friends and family have begun to notice that Jamie is often withdrawn and less engaged during gatherings, which leads to feelings of isolation. Jamie feels disconnected, preferring to stay home rather than socialize.

To cope with the stress, Jamie occasionally reaches for a drink after work. What started as a way to unwind has become more frequent, leading to concerns about reliance on alcohol.

As Jamie reflects on these changes, they wonder what is happening. Are these signs of stress and burnout? Or could it simply be a phase? Maybe it’s just exhaustion from a particularly busy few weeks? Perhaps Jamie is just getting older and needs to slow down?

What might be happening to Jaime?

Jaime is experiencing signs of stress and burnout.

• Anxiety and irritability

• Increased appetite

• Difficulty concentrating

• Difficulty sleeping

• Loss of interest in hobbies

• Increased social engagement

• Increased use of alcohol

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

• Formalized process to help emergency workers deal with stress.

• CISM teams consist of trained peer counselors and mental health experts

• Info shared in sessions is confidential

• Defusing sessions held within 4 hours of the incident

• Debriefing sessions within 24-72 hours after the incident

Infectious diseases are caused by?

An invading pathogen

True or false: you should treat bacterial infections like strep throat with antibiotics

True

True or false: you should treat viral infections like the flu with antibiotics

False

Epidemic

Widespread occurrence of disease in a community at a particular time

Pandemic

Outbreak of disease across several countries or continents

If you are curious about your EMS department’s infectious disease policies, you should check the precautions outlined by which federal agency?

OSHA

True or false: OSHA develops infectious disease protocols for employers and provides necessary equipment and training

False. Employers are responsible for this

When it comes to infectious disease protocols, what are employees required to do?

Complete mandatory training and follow written protocols

Standards precautions should be implemented in all patient contacts and are based on what assumption?

What are the 3 big standard precautions taken by EMS?

That all bodily fluids pose the risk of infection

1. Immediately reporting exposures to the designated infection control officer

2. Handwashing

3. PPE

   • Minimum PPE: gloves and eye protection

   • Expanded PPE: disposable gown, mask, and face shield (ex. childbirth)

     • HEPA mask or N-95 respirator for airborne disease (TB)

What is the single most important way to stop the spread of infection?

Handwashing

You think you may have been exposed to a potential infection. Who should you report this to?

The designated infection control officer

You are assisting in an emergency childbirth. What kind of PPE should you be wearing?

Expanded PPE: disposable gown, mask, and face shield

You are in a home and you suspect that tuberculosis may be present. What kind of PPE should you put on?

High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) mask or N-95 respirator

What should you do with contaminated medical waste?

You should place it in special biohazard bags and disposed of according to local and federal guidelines

In terms of risk exposure, which kind of equipment is usually preferred by EMS: reusable or non reusable equipment?

Non reusable

True or false: sharps should be recapped before placing in an approved sharps container

False

What steps should you take during hazardous materials incidents?

1. Maintain a safe distance and attempt to keep others out

2. Call for specially trained hazmat responders

3. Look for placards without entering the scene and utilize the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) to determine evacuation distance

4. Do not begin emergency care until patients have been decontaminated or otherwise cleared by hazmat crews

Scenario: Hazardous Materials Incident

You're dispatched to a local industrial park for a report of multiple workers experiencing breathing difficulties and nausea. When you and your partner arrive on the scene, you find several workers sitting on the ground outside the building, coughing and gasping for air. Some are complaining of dizziness, headaches, and blurred vision.

As you approach, a safety officer warns you that the workers were exposed to a chemical spill inside the facility. A large drum containing a toxic cleaning solvent was accidentally punctured, releasing hazardous fumes into the air. The workers were evacuated, but the building still contains high concentrations of the chemicals.

You stop short of rushing in to treat the patients—scene safety is your first priority. Quickly assessing the situation, you and your partner scan the area for placards or warning signs on the building or containers that indicate the type of hazardous material involved. You notice a hazardous materials placard on the side of the building with a symbol and the number "6," signaling a toxic substance. This confirms that entering the building without proper protection would be extremely dangerous.

What are your key actions in this scenario?

Key Actions:

• Call for HazMat support: You immediately radio dispatch to request a HazMat team, as they are trained and equipped to handle chemical spills and ensure the area is safe before medical personnel can intervene.

• Establish a safe perimeter: You direct the workers to move farther away from the contaminated building if they're able to walk, ensuring everyone remains upwind from the source of the fumes to avoid further exposure.

• Relay the placard information: When the HazMat team arrives, you provide them with the placard details, which helps them identify the chemical involved and determine the appropriate response.

  • Provide Emergency Care: Once the patients have been decontaminated or are cleared by the Hazmat crew, you may begin treatment.

EMS providers should never enter an active crime scene unless law enforcement has determined it is safe. EMS providers may be advised to respond to a call but remain a safe distance away until cleared by law enforcement. What is this called?

Staging for PD

Staging for PD Scenario, Part 1:

You and your partner are dispatched to a call for a “domestic disturbance with injuries” at a residential home. The details from dispatch indicate that a woman called 911, reporting that her partner had become violent during an argument and someone may be injured inside the home.

As you’re en route, dispatch advises your unit to stage for PD due to the potential for violence. The situation is still unfolding, and it’s unclear whether the scene is secure. The police have been dispatched as well, but they have not yet arrived.

What should you and your partner do?

Staging for PD Scenario, Part 2:

After a few tense minutes, dispatch provides an update: PD is on scene but hasn’t yet secured the area. They advise you to continue staging until they give the all-clear.

What should you and your partner do?

Staging for PD Scenario, Part 3:

Finally, you hear from dispatch again: PD has secured the scene, and it's safe for EMS to approach.

What should you and your partner do?

Part 1:

Following protocol, you or your partner stop the ambulance several blocks away from the scene, out of sight of the residence, and park in a safe location. You and your partner wait for further instructions, monitoring the radio for updates from dispatch or PD. While waiting, you check your equipment to ensure you're prepared to move quickly once the scene is deemed safe.

Part 2:

You and your partner remain in communication, remaining vigilant, knowing that rushing in before the scene is secured could put both of you at serious risk.

Part 3:

You and your partner quickly drive to the location, where the police escort you inside to assess the injured parties. A woman has minor cuts and bruises, and you begin your assessment while keeping an eye on the situation, staying alert to any signs of further escalation.

Federal law requires that EMS workers wear what when working around roadways/traffic/car accidents?

Highly reflective traffic vestt

When arriving on the scene of a traffic accident, how should you position your vehicle?

In a way that helps protect the scene

What other additional hazards require specially trained responders?

1. Downed power lines, fire situations

2. Special rescues

3. Complex extrication

4. Terrorism incidents

When the scene is dangerous and the patient must be moved immediately before providing care, what kind of lift techniques should you use?

Armpit-forearm drag, shirt drag, blanket drag

Examples of non-urgent moves?

Direct ground-lift, extremity lift, direct carry method, draw sheet method

When is the log roll technique used? How many personnel should be involved?

To place a patient on a backboard or assess the posterior. At least 3

What are the drawbacks of a stair chair?

Doesn’t allow for manual cervical spine protection, CPR, or artificial ventilation

What kind of carry device might you use in a remote location not accessible by a wheeled stretcher?

Basket stretcher/Stokes basket

Benefits of a scoop stretcher?

Easy positioning with minimal patient movement, can reduce discomfort

What do you use to keep an infant warm during transport?

Neonatal isolette (requires special training)

What are the key considerations when packaging a patient for air medical transport?

1. Patient must be decontaminated if there is a hazardous material exposure before loading them on the aircraft

2. Notify air medical crew ASAP of any special circumstances (large patient, cardiac arrest, traction splint applied, unstable airway, etc.)

3. Secure all loose equipment, blankets before approaching running aircraft

4. Never approach aircraft without pilot or air medical crew authorization

5. Never approach a rotor wing aircraft from the rear. Never back up

How should you place a patient in the later stages of pregnancy in the ambulance? What if you suspect cervical spine trauma?

On their left side (patients should not be placed supine due to risk for supine hypotensive syndrome). You should tilt the backboard to the left about 20 degrees

Use-of-force doctrine

1. The EMT must act reasonably to prevent harm to a patient being forcibly restrained

2. Use of force must be protective, not punitive

When restraining a patient:

1. ___________

2. ___________

3. ___________

4. ___________

5. ___________

6. ___________

7. ___________

8. ___________

1. Get help (at least 5 people if possible)

2. Only attempt to restrain patients you’re capable of overpowering with the resources available

3. Use the minimum amount of force necessary

4. Position the patient to prevent suffocation, aspiration, or circulatory compromise

5. Use soft, padded restraints

6. Monitor patient’s level of consciousness, airway, and distal circulation (below point of restraints)

7. Thoroughly document your reasoning for restraining the patient, method of restraint, duration of restraint, and frequent reassessment of patient while restrained

8. Never restrain a patient in the prone position, hogtie a patient, or leave a restrained patient unsupervised