Emergency Care - Chapter 11: Scene Size-Up

Vocabulary flashcards based on Chapter 11: Scene Size-Up, detailing danger zones, mechanisms of injury, and safety protocols.

Scene Size-Up

The first part of the patient assessment process in emergency care, which includes checking scene safety, taking Standard Precautions, determining the mechanism of injury or nature of illness, establishing patient counts, and deciding on necessary additional resources.

Danger Zone (No Apparent Hazards)

The safety zone established around a vehicle collision when no apparent hazards exist, extending at least $50\,\text{feet}$ in all directions.

Danger Zone (Spilled Fuel or Vehicle Fire)

The safety zone established when fuel has been spilled or a vehicle is on fire, extending at least $100\,\text{feet}$ in all directions from the wreckage and fuel.

Danger Zone (Downed Wires)

The safety zone established around downed power lines, extending one full span of wires away from the poles to which the broken wires are attached.

Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)

A reference book used by emergency service personnel to determine appropriate danger zones and safety measures when hazardous materials are involved in a call.

Standard Precautions

Infection control practices, including Body Substance Isolation (BSI) procedures and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), designed to prevent exposure to communicable diseases.

Mechanism of Injury (MOI)

The force or forces that caused an injury, used to help predict specific injury patterns in trauma patients.

Up-and-Over Injury Pattern

A trajectory pattern in a head-on motor vehicle collision where the occupant travels up and over the steering wheel, frequently leading to head, neck, chest, and abdominal injuries.

Down-and-Under Injury Pattern

A trajectory pattern in a head-on motor vehicle collision where the occupant slides down under the steering wheel, frequently causing knee, femur, and hip or pelvis injuries.

Rotational Impact Collision

A collision type where a vehicle is struck and spins, causing initial impacts that often lead to subsequent secondary impacts.

Significant Fall (Adult)

A fall from a height of more than $20\,\text{feet}$, indicating a severe mechanism of injury for an adult patient.

Significant Fall (Child)

A fall from a height of more than $10\,\text{feet}$ (or two to three times the child's height) in a child under $15\,\text{years}$ of age.

Penetrating Trauma

An injury caused by an object passing through the skin or other body tissues, classified by the velocity of the impacting item.

Low-Velocity Penetrating Trauma

An injury typically caused by hand-driven objects like knives, where tissue damage is limited primarily to the area penetrated.

Medium- and High-Velocity Penetrating Trauma

Injuries caused by handguns (medium-velocity) or rifles (high-velocity) that can inflict damage anywhere in the body due to the projectile path and cavitation.

Cavitation

The pressure-related wave and temporary cavity created in surrounding body tissue by a medium- or high-velocity projectile.

Blunt-Force Trauma

An injury caused by a blow that strikes the body without penetrating the skin or underlying tissues, often presenting with subtle or easily overlooked signs.

Index of Suspicion

A heightened awareness that unseen, severe internal injuries may be present based on the mechanism of injury.

Nature of Illness (NOI)

The reason why EMS was called for a medical patient suffering from an illness or non-traumatic condition.