Workplace Safety and Wellness - Chapter 2

Flashcards about workplace safety and wellness for emergency medical responders.

National EMS Education Standard Competencies

Uses simple knowledge of the EMS system, safety/well-being of the EMR, and medical/legal issues at the scene of an emergency while awaiting a higher level of care.

Workforce Safety and Wellness

Standard safety precautions, personal protective equipment, stress management, dealing with death and dying, crew resource management, prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses

Medicine (National EMS Education Standard Competencies)

Recognizes and manages life threats based on assessment findings of a patient with a medical emergency while awaiting additional emergency response.

Infectious Diseases (National EMS Education Standard Competencies)

Awareness of a patient who may have an infectious disease and how to decontaminate equipment after treating a patient

Infectious Diseases

Illnesses that are caused by germs such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi that enter the body and multiply; they can spread from one person to another.

Direct contact (disease transmission)

MRSA infection is caused by a staph bacteria and spread by direct contact. Most MRSA infections occur in health care settings such as hospitals, dialysis centers, and nursing homes.

Airborne pathogens

Infectious diseases that are spread through indirect contact with airborne droplets include seasonal influenza, COVID-19, TB, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Bloodborne pathogens

Infectious microorganisms in the blood – viruses can cause AIDS, hepatitis B and C. HIV is transmitted by contact with infected blood.

Standard Precautions

Federal regulations require all health care workers assume all patients are potentially infected with pathogens – spread by direct contact, airborne transmission or blood.

Immunizations

Recommended for EMS responders: influenza, tetanus prophylaxis, hepatitis B vaccine. Check status of your varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, and your measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Tuberculin testing may also be recommended.

Crew Resource Management (CRM)

Way for team members to work together with a leader to develop and maintain a shared understanding of an emergency situation.

Five stages of grief

Includes denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Infectious diseases

Illnesses that are caused by germs