EMT - Brady's Emergency Care 12th Edition

Designated Agent

p. 16 - An EMT or other person authorized by a Medical Director to give medications and provide emergency care. Such authorization is an extension of the Medical Director's license to practice medicine.

Evidence-Based

p. 16 - description of medical techniques or practices that are supported by scientific evidence of their safety and efficacy, rather than merely on supposition and tradition.

Medical Direction

p. 15 - Oversight of the patient-care aspects of an EMS system by the Medical Director

Medical Director

p. 15 - A physician who assumes ultimate responsibility for the patient-care aspects of the EMS system

911 System

p. 8 - A system for telephone access to report emergencies. A dispatcher takes the info and alerts EMS/FD/PD as needed

Patient Outcomes

p. 16 - the long-term survival of patients

Protocols

p. 15 - Lists of steps, such as assessments and interventions, to be taken in different situations. Are developed by the Medical Director.

Quality Improvement

p. 13 - A process of continuous self-review with the purpose of identifying and correcting aspects of the system that require improvement.

Standing Orders

p. 16 - A policy or protocol issued by a Medical Director that authorizes EMTs and others to perform particular skills in certain situations.

Enhanced 911

p. 8 - Has the capability of automatically identifying the caller's phone number and location

Off-Line Medical Direction

Standing orders issued by the Medical Director that allow EMTs to give certain medications or perform certain procedures without speaking to the Medical Director or another physician.

On-Line Medical Direction

Orders given directly by the on-duty physician to an EMT in the field by radio or telephone.

Contamination

p. 25 - The introduction of dangerous chemicals, disease, or infections materials.

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

p. 39 - A comprehensive system that includes education and resources to both prevent stress and to deal with stress appropriately when it occurs.

Decontamination

p. 42 - The removal or cleansing of dangerous chemicals and other dangerous or infectious materials

Hazardous Material Incident

p. 41 - The release of a harmful substance into the environment

Multiple-Casualty Incident (MCI)

p. 38 - A single incident when there are multiple patients.

Pathogens

p. 23 - The organisms that cause infection, such as viruses and bacteria.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

p. 24 - Equipment that protects the EMS worker from infection and/or exposure to the dangers of rescue operations

Standard Precautions

p. 23 - A strict form of infection control that is based on the assumption that all blood and other body fluids are infectious.

Stress

p. 36 - A state of physical and/or psychological arousal to a stimulus

Ryan White CARE Act

p. 32 - Requires a designated official within every emergency response organization to gather information about airborne or bloodborne disease exposures.

This type of Hepatitis has no vaccine

Hepatitis C

Acute Stress Reaction

p. 36 - Occurs simultaneously with or shortly after a critical incident

Delayed Stress Reaction (PTSD)

p. 36 - May occur at any time, days to years, following a critical incident.

Cumulative Stress Reaction ( Burnout)

p. 36 - Occurs as a result of prolonged recurring stressors in work or private life.

The 5 Stages of Grief

p. 40 - (In Order) Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance

Actions Required to Respond to Danger

p. 43 - Plan, Observe, React

3 Rs of Reacting to Danger

p. 44-45 - Run, Radio, Reevaluate Situation

Bariatric

Having to do with patients who are significantly overweight or obese

Body Mechanics

The proper use of the body to facilitate lifting and moving and prevent injury

Direct Carry

A method of transferring a patient from bed to stretcher, during which thwo or more rescuers curl the patient to their chests, then reverse the process to lower the patient to the stretcher

Direct Ground Lift

A method of lifting and carrying a patient from ground level to a stretcher in which two or more rescuers kneel, curl the patient to their chests, stand, then reverse the process to lower the patient to the stretcher

Draw-sheet method

A method of transferring a patient from bed to stretcher by grasping and pulling the loosened bottom sheet of the bed

Extremity Lift

A method of lifting and carrying a patient during which one rescuer slpis hands under the patient's armpits and grasps the wrists, while another rescuer grasps the patient's knees.

Power Grip

Gripping with as much hand surface as possible in contact with the object being lifted, all fingers bent at the same angle and hands at least 10 inches apart.

Power Lift

A lift from a squatting position with weight to be lifted close to the body, feet apart and flat on the ground, body weight on or just behind the balls of the feet, and the back locked-in. The upper body is raised before the hips, also called the squat-lift position.

Recovery Position

For unresponsive patients with NO suspected spinal injury - on their side so that vomit/oral secretions can drain out the mouth

Stair Chair

For moving patients around tight corners and up/down stairs. Places patient in a sitting position.

Spine Board (Backboard)

Used for patients in the supine/prone or standing positions and need spinal immobilization.

Scoop Stretcher

Splits into two pieces vertically, allowing the patient to be "scooped" by pushing the halves together under them. Does not have any support directly under the spine and is not recommended for patients with spinal injury.

Basket/Stokes Stretcher

Can be moved to move a patient from one level to another or over rough terrian. Should be lined with a blanket prior to placing patient in it, unless patient is on a backboard.

Flexible/Reeves Stretcher

Made of canvas or rubberized/flexible material, with or without wooden slats sewn into pockets, carrying handles on each side. Also may be known as Mega Movers or Shamu Tarps.

Vest-Type Extrication Device

AKA Kendrick Extrication Device, used for immobilizing patients who are found in a seated position

Emergency Move

Performed if the scene is hazardous, care of life-threatening conditions requires repositioning of the patient, or you must reach other patients. If possible, move the patient in line with the long axis of their body.

Urgent Move

Required when the patient must be moved quickly for treatment of an immediate threat to life. Performed WITH spinal precautions.

Non-Urgent Moves

Used when there is no urgent threat to life or scene hazards.

Abandonment

Leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical treatment

Advance Directive

A DNR order; instructions written in advance of an event.

Assault

Placing a person in fear of bodily harm.

Battery

Causing bodily harm or restraining a person.

Confidentiality

The obligation not to reveal information obtained about a patient except to other health care professionals involved in the patient's care, or under subpoena, or in a court of law, or when the patient has signed a release of confidentiality.

Consent

permission from the patient for care or other action by the EMT

Crime Scene

The location where a crime has been committed or any place that evidence relating to a crime may be found

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order

a legal document, usually signed by the patient and his physician, which states that the patient has a terminal illness and does not wish to prolong life through resuscitative efforts.

Duty to Act

An obligation to provide care to a patient

Ethical

Regarding a social system or social or professional expectations for applying principals of right and wrong

Expressed Consent

consent given by adults who are of legal age and mentally competent to make a rational decision in regard to their medical well being

Good Samaritan Laws

A series of laws, varying in each state, designed to provide limited legal protection for citizens and some health care personnel when they are administering emergency care

HIPAA

the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a federal law protecting the privacy of patient-specific health care info and providing the patient with control over how this info is used/distributed.

Implied Consent

the consent it is presumed a patient or patient's parent/guardian would give if they could, such as for an unconscious patient or a parent who cannot be contacted when care is needed.

In Loco Parentis

In place of the parents, indicating a person who may give consent for care of a child when the parents are not present or able to give consent

Liability

being held legally responsible

Libel

false or injurious information in written form

Moral

regarding personal standards or principles of right and wrong

Negligence

a finding of failure to act properly in a situation in which there was a duty to act, that needed care as would reasonably be expected of the EMT was not provided, and that harm was caused to the patient as a result.

Organ Donor

A person who has completed a legal document that allows for donation of organs and tissues in the event of death

res ipsa loquitur

A Latin term meaning "the thing speaks for itself"

Safe Haven Law

a law that permits a person to drop off an infant or child at a police, fire, or EMS station or to deliver the infant or child to any available public safety personnel. The intent of the law is to protect children who may otherwise be abandoned or harmed.

Scope of Practice

a set of regulations and ethical considerations taht define the scope, or extent and limits, of the EMT's job.

Slander

false or injurious information stated verbally

Standard of Care

for an EMT providing care for a specific patient in a specific situation, the care that would be expected to be provided by and EMT with similar training when caring for a ptient in a similar situation.

Tort

A civil, not criminal, offense; an action or injury caused by negligence from which a lawsuit may arise

Abdominal Quadrants

four divisions of the abdomen used to pinpoint the location of a pain or injury - RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, LLQ

Acetabulum

pelvic socket into which the boll at the proximal end of the femur fits to form the hip joint

Acromioclavicular joint

the joint where the acromion and the clavicle meet

Acromion Process

The highest portion of the shoulder

Anatomical Position

the standard reference position for the body in the study of anatomy. In this position, the body is standing erect, facing the observer, with arms down at the sides and the palms of the hands forward.

Anatomy

the study of body structure

Anterior

front of the body or body part

Aorta

large blood vessel in mammals through which blood travels from the left ventricle to all parts of the body except the lungs

Appendix

a small, fingerlike tube near the junction of the large and small intestines; contains a mass of white blood cells that contribute to immunity

Arteriole

the smallest kind of artery

Artery

any blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart

Atria

the two upper chambers of the heart- the receiving areas that pool incoming blood.

Automaticity

The ability of the heart to generate and conduct electrical impulses on its own.

Autonomic Nervous System

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms

Bilateral

on both sides

bladder

round sac-like organ of the renal system used as a reservoir for urine

blood pressure

measurement of the force exerted by the heart against the arterial walls when the heart contracts and relaxes

brachial artery

artery of the upper arm, site of the pulse checked during infant CPR

bronchi

the two large sets of branches that come off the trachea and enter the lungs. Right and Left Bronchi

Calcaneus

Heel Bone

Capillary

smallest blood vessel; brings nutrients and oxygen to the tissues and absorbs carbon dioxide and waste products

Cardiac Conduction System

a system of specialized muscle tissues which conduct electrical impulses that stimulate the heart to beat

Cardiac Muscle

Striated, involuntary muscle found only in the heart

cardiovascular system

the body system that consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood, and that carries needed substances to cells and carries waste products away from cells.

Carotid Arteries

large neck arteries, one on each side of the neck, that carry blood from the heart to the head

Carpals

wrist bones

Central Nervous System (CNS)

brain and spinal cord