Vocab Ch. 2 Workforce Safety and Wellness of EMT

Burnout

A state of exhaustion and irritability.

Cleaning

The process of washing a soiled object with soap and water.

Critical Incident

A serious or stressful event that can strongly affect an EMT emotionally or mentally.

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

Is ideally held within 24 to 72 hours of a critical incident. During CISD, a team of peer counselors and health professionals help emergency service personnel work through seven phases.

Defusing

Is a version of CISD held up to 8 hours following a critical incident. It is attended only by those most directly involved in the critical incident and lasts up to 30 to 45 minutes.

Disinfecting

Includes cleaning, but also involves using a hospital-grade disinfecting or germicide to kill many of the microorganisms that may be present on the surface of the object.

Pathogens

Are microorganisms that are typically visible only through a microscope and may be found in the environment around you and also residing on or in the patient you are assessing and treating.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The equipment used for Standard Precautions.

Purified Protein Derivate (PPD) tuberculin test

Is a skin test used to check if someone has been exposed to tuberculosis (TB).

Standard Precautions

Protecting yourself from a disease transmission through exposure to blood and other body fluids.

Sterilization

Is the process by which an object is subject to a chemical or physical substance (such as superheated steam in an autoclave) that kills all microorganisms on the surface of an object or equipment.